CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  M5S0 

(716)  872-4503 


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Ttchnical  and  BibHographic  Notaa/Notaa  tachniquaa  at  bibliographiquaa 


Th« 

t3t 


Tha  Inatituta  haa  attamptad  to  obtain  tha  baat 
original  copy  avaiiabia  for  filming.  Faaturaa  of  thia 
copy  which  may  ba  bibiiograrhically  uniqua, 
which  may  altar  any  of  tha  imagaa  In  tha 
raproductton,  or  which  may  aignlf  icanthf  changa 
tha  uaual  mathod  of  filming,  ara  chackad  baiow. 


D 


D 


D 
D 


D 


Coiourad  covara/ 
Couvartura  da  coulaur 


|~~1   Covara  damagad/ 


Couvartura  andommagAa 

Covara  raatorad  and/or  lamlnatad/ 
Couvartura  rattauria  at/ou  paliieuMa 


I — I  Covar  titia  missing/ 


La  titra  da  couvartura  manqua 

Colourad  maps/ 

Cartas  gtegraphlquas  an  coulaur 

Colourad  init  (i.a.  othar  than  blua  or  black)/ 
Encra  da  coulau;'  (i.a.  autra  qua  blaua  ou  noira) 


r~n  Colourad  platas  and/or  illustrations/ 


D 


Pbtnchaa  at/ou  Illustrations  an  coulaur 


Bound  with  othar  matarlal/ 
Ralii  avac  d'autroa  documents 


Tight  binding  may  causa  shadows  or  distortion 
along  Intarior  margin/ 

La  raliura  sarr4a  paut  causar  da  I'ombra  ou  da  la 
distortion  la  long  da  la  marga  IntArlaura 

Blank  laavas  addad  during  rastoratlon  may 
appaar  within  tha  taxt.  Whanavar  posslbia,  thasa 
hava  baan  omittad  from  filming/ 
II  sa  paut  qua  cartainas  pagas  blanches  ajout^as 
lors  d'una  rastauration  apparalssant  dans  la  tairta. 
mals.  lorsqua  cala  Atalt  possibia,  cas  pagas  n'ont 
pas  At*  fllmtes. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commantalrcs  supplAmantairas: 


L'Instltut  a  microfilmi  la  malllaur  axamplaira 
qu'il  lui  a  4tA  poaaibia  da  aa  procurer.  Las  dMalls 
da  cat  axemplaira  qui  sent  peut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographlque,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dana  la  mAthode  norriiala  de  f ilmage 
sont  indlqute  ei-dessous. 


I — I  Coloured  pages/ 


D 


Pagea  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagiaa 

Pages  restored  and/oi 

Pages  restaurtes  at/ou  pelliculAes 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxe( 
Pagas  dAcoiorAas,  tachatAes  ou  piquAas 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  dAtachtes 

Showthroughy 
Transparence 

Quality  of  prir 

QualltA  imigale  de  I'lmpression 

Includes  supplementary  materii 
Comprend  du  matMal  supplAmentaIre 


|~n  Pages  damaged/ 

I — j  Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 

r~n  Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 

Fyl  Pages  detached/ 

nn  Showthrough/ 

I     I  Quality  of  print  varies/ 

j     I  Includes  supplementary  material/ 


Th« 
pos 
oft 
filir 


Orii 
bai 
the 
slot 
oth 
firsi 
slot 
ori 


Tha 
she 
TIN 
whi 

Mai 
dift 
anti 
be^ 
righ 
reqi 
mei 


I — I   Only  edition  available/ 


Seule  MMon  disponible 

Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  hava  been  ref limed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  Image/ 
Les  pages  totalament  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  faulllet  d'errata,  una  pelure. 
etc.,  ont  At(ft  filmdet  A  nouvaau  da  fa9on  A 
obtanir  la  mailleure  lr.iaga  possible. 


This  item  Is  filmed  at  tha  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film*  au  taux  de  riductlon  indiqu*  cl-dessous. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

2SX 

aox 

/. 

12X 


lex 


aox 


a4x 


aix 


32X 


Th«  copy  film«d  h«r«  hM  b««n  raproducflKS  thanks 
t9  th«  g*n«rosity  of: 

University  of  British  Columbia  Library 


L'Momplairo  film*  fut  roproctuit  grico  i  la 
gAnArosit*  da: 

University  of  British  Columbia  Library 


Tha  imagas  appaaring  hara  ara  tha  bast  quality 
possibia  conaidaring  tha  condition  and  lagibility 
of  tha  original  copy  and  in  kaaping  with  tha 
filming  contract  spacifications. 


Original  copias  in  printad  papar  covars  ara  fllmad 
baginning  with  tha  front  covar  and  anding  on 
tha  last  paga  with  a  printad  or  iilustratad  impras- 
sion,  or  tlia  back  covar  whan  appropriata.  All 
othar  original  copias  ara  filmad  baginning  on  tha 
first  paga  with  a  printed  or  iilustratad  impras- 
sion,  and  anding  on  tha  last  paga  with  a  printad 
or  iilustratad  imprassion. 


Tha  last  racordad  frama  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  «^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), cr  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Lea  imagaa  suivantas  ont  it*  raproduites  avac  le 
plus  grand  soln,  compta  tenu  de  la  condition  at 
de  la  nattet*  da  I'exemplaira  film*,  et  en 
conformiti  avac  las  conditions  du  contrat  da 
fiimaga. 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couvarture  an 
papier  eat  imprimte  sont  filmto  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
darnlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  la  aacond 
plat,  salon  la  cas.  Tous  las  autras  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmis  an  commenpant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  darnlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparattra  sur  la 
derniire  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  -*>  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbols  ▼  signifis  "FIN". 


IMaps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposurs  ara  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc..  peuvent  Atre 
filmte  A  des  taux  de  rMuction  diffArents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atra 
reproduit  en  un  seui  clichA,  il  est  film*  A  partir 
da  i'angle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite. 
et  de  haut  en  bas.  en  prenant  la  nombre 
d'imagas  nAcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
iilustrent  la  mAthode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

i; 


vu 


mimmmMmiimm^ 


I 


^    REVIETV' 


OF  THE 


FISHERIES  IN  THE  CONTIGUOUS  WATERS  OF  THE  STATE  OF 
WASHINGTON  AND  BRITISH  COLUMBIA. 


BY 


RICHARD     RATHBUN, 
Ataittant  Secretary,  Smithaonian  Imtitution. 


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Report  U.  S.  F.  C    1899     iT.>  face  pag«  253.) 


Plate  8. 


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A  REVIEW  OF  THE  FISHERIES  IN  THE  CONTIGUOUS  WATERS 
OF  THE  STATE  OF  WASHINGTON  AND  BRITISH  COLUMBIA. 


By  Richard  Rathbun, 
A$$istant  Secretary,  Smithsonian  InetitutioH. 


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INTRODUCTION. 

From  1893  to  1896  the  fisheries  in  the  boundary  waters  betwet:? 
Canada  and  the  United  States  were  made  the  subject  of  inquiry  by 
an  iutornational  commiHsion,  composed  of  Dr.  William  Wakehaiii,  of 
Ottawa,  as  the  representative  of  Great  Britain,  and  the  writer  acting 
on  behalf  of  this  country.  The  interesting'  region  at  the  western  ter- 
minus of  the  boundary  line,  where  the  fishing  industry,  though  still 
comparatively  new,  has  already  attained  a  marvelous  development,  was 
visited  in  the  summer  uf  1895,  and  several  weeks  were  spent  in  exa'n- 
iuing  its  principal  features.  The  results  of  this  investigation,  so  far  as 
they  were  directly  pertinent  to  the  objects  of  the  commission,  were 
embodied  in  its  report  submitted  to  the  two  respective  governments 
on  December  31,  1896.*  Since  then  the  writer  has  again  gone  over  the 
voluminous  notes  made  in  the  field  not  only  by  Dr.  Wakeham  and  him- 
self but  also  by  various  partiea  of  the  United  States  Fish  Commission, 
including  the  work  of  the  steamer  Albatross,  and  has  consulted  the 
long  series  of  reports  published  by  the  Canadian  Department  of  Marine 
and  Fisheries.  The  present  paper  is  based  upon  the  materials  derived 
from  these  sources,  and  is  limited  in  scope  chiefly  to  those  fishery 
questions  of  the  region  which  are  of  international  concern. 

The  fact  most  strikingly  brought  out  in  the  assembling  of  these  data 
is  the  great  paucity  of  accurate  or  detailed  information  regarding  the 
aqitatic  products  of  the  region,  such  as  is  requisite  in  providing  for 
their  preservation  while  still  permitting  them  to  be  utilized  without 
needless  interference.  '  With  exceptional  opi)ortnnities  lor  their  study, 
resulting  from  the  favorable  conditions  of  environment,  the  f.eld  is  one 
that  would  richly  repay  the  inquiries  of  the  naturalist  and  fishery 
expert,  if  properly  directed,  in  the  practical  benefits  they  promise. 
After  this  explanation  it  is  to  be  expected  that  the  following  pages  will 
prove  more  serviceable  in  pointing  out  lines  of  profitable  investigation 

*  Message  from  the  President  of  the  United  States  relating  to  report  of  joint  coni- 
misHioners  rehitivo  to  th<3  preservation  of  tisherius  in  waterH  contiguous  to  tlio  United 
StatfS  and  Canada.  Itouve  of  Representatives,  Fifty-fourth  Congresi),  second  ses- 
sion, Doc.  No.  315,  pp.  178,  Washington,  Government  Printing  Office,  1897. 

253 


1     ''■ 
\      i 


254       REPORT  OF  COMMISSIONER  OF   FISH  AND  FISHERIES. 

than  in  setting  forth  the  conditions  which  are  actually  known  to  exist^ 
and  while  attention  is  called  to  the  great  variety  of  resources,  these 
are  enlarged  upon  only  in  the  directions  where  their  development  has 
already  made  them  prominent.  It  has  also  been  possible  in  these  same 
directions  to  indicate  a  few  plausible  means  of  safeguarding  such 
resources,  the  suggestions  in  that  regard  being  made  in  the  full  belief 
that  ways  can  be  found  for  rendering  the  fisheries  as  permanent  a 
feature  of  any  region  as  that  of  farming. 

As  the  circumstances  attending  the  rapid  growth  of  the  salmon 
fishery  in  the  Puget  Sound  region  of  Washington  since  1895  have  not 
been  made  the  subject  of  scientific  investigation,  and  as  only  meager 
information  regarding  them  has^een  obtainable,  coming  often  from 
sources  of  dcubtfttl  suiHonty,  it  has  been  impossible  to  deal  with  the 
recent  history  of  the  question  in  other  than  a  very  general  way.  The 
deductions  here  presented  have,  therefore,  been  chiefly  based  on  the 
conditions  found  to  exist  in  1895,  with  such  additions  as  seem  certainly 
to  be  warranted. 

PHYSICAL  FEATURES. 

At  the  western  end  of  tho  international  boundary  line  formed  by  the 
forty-ninth  parallel  of  north  latitude  is  a  nearly  landlocked  sea,  having 
especially  noteworthy  characteristics,  the  most  important  of  which  at 
present  is  its  fishery  wealth,  shared  in  somewhat  equal  proportions 
by  both  Oanada  and  the  United  States.  This  sea  is  elongate  in  shape 
and  extends  in  a  general  northwest  and  southeast  direction  a  distance 
of  over  200  miles.  Its  southern  end  penetrates  some  60  miles  or  more 
into  the  State  of  Washington,  while  its  middle  and  northern  parts  lie 
between  Vancouver  Island,  on  the  west,  and  the  mainland  of  Washing- 
ton and  British  Oolumbia,  on  the  east.  Having  nowhere  a  width  of 
over  35  miles,  it  is  in  some  places  much  constricted  and  contains  many 
islands  which  occupy  the  greatest  relative  area  south  of  the  boundary. 
Two  passageways  connect  it  with  the  ocean,  a  shorter  and  broader  one, 
the  Strait  of  Juan  de  Fuca,  opening  on  the  west,  and  a  long  series  of 
irregular  and  mainly  narrow  channels  leading  northward. 

There  is  no  name,  unfortunately,  by  which  this  body  of  water  can  be 
designated  as  a  whole.  Its  northern  part,  chiefly  in  British  territory, 
is  called  the  Gulf  or  Strait  of  Georgia;  the  middle  pqrtion,  largely 
occupied  by  the  San  Juan  Islands,  appears  on  the  hydrographic  charts 
as  Washington  Sound,  although  locally  this  name  is  scarcely  recog- 
nized; while  the  southern  part  is  known  as  Puget  Sound,  a  term  which 
is  often  popularly  but  incorrectly  applied  to  the  entire  area  within  the 
limits  of  the  State  of  Washington,  exclusive  of  the  Strait  of  Juan  de 
Fuca. 

Prominent  characteristics  of  the  sea  are  its  abrupt  shores,  great 
depths  and  relatively  low  and  equable  temperature  of  water.  The 
shore  line  is  exceedingly  irregular,  being  broken  by  innumerable  bays, 
harbors,  and  deep  inlets,  is  high  and  rugged  in  many  parts,  and  backed 


PI8HEBIK8   OP   WASHINGTON    AND    BRITISH    COLUMBIA.      255 


by  tall  mountain  ranges  and  oooasional  isolated  peaks,  all  of  which 
combine  to  produce  a  region  of  exor  Bding  ])ictures(iueneHs.  The  more 
open  areas  are  the  Oolf  of  Georgia  and  the  waters  at  the  inner  end  of 
the  Strait  of  Fuca.  The  greater  part  of  Paget  Bound  is  divided  into 
long,  more  or  less  winding  passageways  and  inlets  of  medium  to  very 
narrow  width,  which,  especially  in  its  southern  part,  ramify  in  all 
directions. 

The  depth  of  water  exceeds  200  fathoms  in  a  few  places,  is  above  100 
fathoms  over  a  wide  extent,  and  seldom  falls  below  30  or  40  fathoms. 
This  deep  water  is  not  alone  characteristic  of  the  open  areas,  but 
extends  through  the  various  channels  at  the  south  and  readies  cloise 
upon  the  shores.  In  fact,  there  is  practically  no  shallow  water  any- 
where, except  upon  the  few  shoals  and  submerged  rocks  and  upon  the 
banks  formed  about  the  months  of  rivers  by  the  sediment  brought  down 
at  flood  time.  Its  temperattire  seems  never  to  reach  60°  F.,  even  in 
the  summer,  except  in  some  of  the  more  sheltered  bays,  the  records 
showing  mainly  from  53°  to  r>8°,  and  in  the  winter  it  is  relatively  high 
as  compared  with  similar  lativ<udes  on  the  Atlantic  coast.  Under  these 
conditions  little  is  to  be  feared  from  local  sources  of  pollution  or  other 
generally  harmful  agencies,  and  the  effects  of  its  rivers,  however 
swollen  and  muddy  during  I'reshets,  are  for  the  most  part  quickly 
dissipated. 

In  its  ruggedness,  its  depths,  the  temi)eratare  and  purity  of  its 
waters,  this  sea  partakes  of  tJie  characteristics  of  the  adjacent  ocean, 
with  which  its  strong  tides  maintain  a  constant  interchange.  It  natu- 
rally follows  that  its  fishes  ure  those  of  the  outer  coast,  which  find 
here  only  somewhat  greater  shelter  and  perhaps  a  more  convenient 
source  of  food.  To  the  local  fishermen  it  gives  mauy  advantages,  con- 
venient grounds,  nearby  harbors  and  markets,  and  those  opportunities 
for  fishing  which  belong  especially  with  a  broken  sheet  of  water. 

The  region,  both  from  its  resources  and  from  its  natural  advantages, 
is  destined  to  have  an  important  future.  Its  local  products,  which 
have  thus  far  been  most  developed  in  the  line  of  the  fisheries,  are 
suiHcient  to  secure  it  great  prominence,  but  its  harbor  facilities  and 
convenient  position  with  reference  to  Alaska  and  the  Orient  insure  its 
becoming  one  of  the  most  important  commercial  districts  on  the  Pacific 
coast.  The  surrounding  country  is,  in  many  sections,  being  rapidly 
settled,  and  while  much  unwarranted  booming  has  taken  place,  a  num- 
ber of  tovns  and  cities  have  been  established  under  conditions  which 
make  certain  their  future  growth  and  prosperity.  The  most  important 
of  these  in  Washington  are  Seattle  and  Tacoma,  whose  commercial 
activity  is  already  well  marked.  In  British  Columbia,  Vancouver  is 
the  point  of  transshipment  between  the  Canadian  trunk  line  and  the 
finest  fleet  of  Pacific  steamships;  New  Westminster,  on  the  Fraser,  is 
the  headquarters  of  the  salmon  fisheries  and  oanning,  and  Victoria  is 
the  principal  British  seaport.  The  development  of  trade  and  of  local 
resources,  not  many  years  now  past  the  stage  of  infancy,  has  been 


ill 


256       BBPOBT   OK   C()MMI88IONER   OV    FIHH    AND    FIBIIBKIES. 

pliMDuinciial,  and  is  proKretisiDg  year  by  year  in  an  ever  incruaHing 
ratio.  Tlie  recent  gold  excitement  at  tlie  north  liaa  given  a  new  inipetuH, 
but  the  llolieries,  ao  long  as  tliey  are  pretierved,  will  figure  as  one  of 
tlie  uiOHt  valued  features  of  the  region. 

TbiH  landlocked  Hea  baa  only  one  large  tributary  Rtream,  the  FraHer 
lliver,  wbi(;b  belongs  entirely  in  British  territory.  With  a  single  excep- 
tion at  the  north,  all  other  streams  which  enter  from  the  east  belong 
to  the  weHtern  drainage  of  the  Cascade  Range,  and  are  therefore  short 
and  correspondinffly  uuiuiportaut.  The  Fraser  is  derived  th)m  several 
sources  on  the  western  side  of  the  liocky  Mountains  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  Yellow hea^^  i'ass.  Flowing  northwest  about  100  miles  through 
the  deep  valley  be'tween  the  llockies  and  the  Selkirks,  it  rounds  the 
northern  edge  of  the  latter  and  thence  continues  southw.trd  about  470 
miles,  when  it  bends  toward  the  west,  oompletin:;  in  thnt  (direction  the 
remaining  80  uiiles  of  its  course.  The  total  length  of  the  Fruser  is 
therefore  in  the  neighborhood  of  740  miles.  There  is  one  principal 
atlluent,  the  Thompson,  which  Joins  it  about  145  miles  above  its  mouth, 
but  of  minor  tributaries  it  has  very  many,  ranging  from  medium  size 
down,  which  are  distributed  throughout  tli*-  system.  Belonging  with 
thene,  as  a  conspicuous  feature  of  the  system,  are  numerous  lakes,  gen- 
erally elongate  in  shape,  placed  singly  or  in  chains,  whi<;h  are  mostly 
enlargements  of  the  water-courses  and  have  originated  in  the  obstruc- 
tion of  channeis  by  silt  and  coarser  d(^bris  brou</ht  down  by  freshets 
derived  f^om  melting  ^now  on  the  mountain  sides. 

The  variable  nature  of  the  country  through  which  the  Eraser  flows 
gives  it  a  great  diversity  of  characteristics,  and  in  its  passage  through 
the  Coast  Range  it  has  produced  the  celebrated  canyon  which  bears 
its  name.  Its  surroundings  are  in  many  places  extremely  wild  and 
picturesque,  but  its  lower  80  miles  nre  through  a  flat,  alluvial  plain 
mainly  deposited  firom  its  own  ^ilt,  and  about  10  miles  above  its  mouth 
it  divides  to  form  a  delta  through  which  it  reaches  the  (lulf  of  Georgia 
by  two  principal  channels  and  several  lesser  ones.  This  plain  affords 
rich  farming  land,  much  of  which  is  under  cultivatiow. 

The  river  is  navigable  for  vessels  of  ordinary  draft  a  distance  of 
about  80  miles  from  the  sea,  and  for  smaller  craft  about  <>0  miles  far- 
ther. Its  current  is  strong,  increasing  greatly  in  the  season  of  freshets, 
the  late  spring  and  early  summer,  when  it  overflows  its  banks  to  a 
greater  or  less  extent  in  the  lower  levels.  This  flood  condition  is 
chiefly  caused  by  melting  snow  in  the  upper  and  tributary  waters,  and 
while  varying  in  extent  it  seldom  causes  any  appreciable  c^  i^ge,  as 
dikes  have  been  built  around  the  farming  lauds.  Theit*  'kmy>%  how- 
ever, been  occasional  extraordinary  floods  since  the  rf^ioii  iiu.-i  been 
sdttled,  the  most  severe  one  on  record  having  occurred  the  l-ira  of  May 
and  the  first  of  June,  1894,  when  the  river  burst  all  hour  d  '■  covering 
tlie  lowlands  and  valleys,  sweeping  away  houses,  and  (N  vastatiiig 
crops.  At  this  setison  the  fishing  is  not  important  and  its  interests  axe 
not  materially  affected. 


18 

and 

.,  as 

lOW- 

jeeu 
May 
jriiig 
ting 
9  axe 


FI8HEBIES   dV    WAHHINOTON    AND    HRITIBH   COLUMBIA.      257 

Tho  u[»|)er  limit  of  tidal  influence  in  the  river  is  in  tlie  neighborhood 
of  Suma^4,  about  Or>  miles  from  the  mouth,  but  braclcish  water  iasaid 
not  to  be  |)eroeptible  much  if  any  above  New  WeHtminster.  Tliese 
limitations  ai<^  for  the  spring  tides  during  the  periods  of  low  water. 
The  freshets  counteract  the  influiMice  of  the  seu  in  proiM)rtion  to  their 
height,  and  at  their  maximum  carry  the  ^r^'sh  water,  at  least  on  tlie 
■urfa<;o,  as  far  as  the  river  mouths  and  into  t.' <  Gulf  of  (}eorgia  beyond. 
The  ordinary  rise  and  fall  of  the  tide  is  about  12  feet  at  the  mouth  of 
the  river  and  4  or  5  feet  at  New  Westm'nHler. 

A  marked  feature  of  the  freshet  sear  >:.,  having  an  important  bearing 
on  the  salmon  Hshery,  is  the  intense  clouding  jf  the  river  by  sediment, 
H  f  jie  grayish  silt,  which  remains  long  in  ^sitspension  and  gives  a  light 
slaty  color  to  the  water.  The  deposition  of  this  material  is  going  on 
continuously  throughout  the  lower  level  portion  of  the  river,  causing 
shifting  bars  and  banks,  which,  with  their  accompanintont  of  snags, 
are  a  source  of  great  annoyance  to  navigation.  But  the  silt  is  also 
carried  out  beyond  the  river,  where  it  is  adding  to  tiie  delta  formation 
and  building  up  a  wide  bank  or  shoal  along  the  shore,  from  Point  Grey 
to  Point  lioberts.  This  bank  is  broadest  directly  in  front  of  the  river 
mouths,  of  which  the  principal  ones  maintain  their  channels  through 
it  into  the  deeper  waters  of  the  Oulf  of  Georgia. 

In  the  early  spring,  when  the  quinnat  begin  to  run,  the  river  is  com- 
paratively clear,  so  that  in  the  daytime  the  gill  nets  can  bo  more  or 
less  plainly  detected  by  the  fish.  I  ater  the  sediment  appears  and 
continues  in  all  its  intensity  during  June  and  July  and  into  August, 
when  the  river  begins  to  clarify.  In  the  opaque  water  the  nets  may  be 
used  as  effectively  by  daylight  as  at  night,  and  it  is  during  this  season 
that  the  great  sockeye  run  takes  place,  the  run  on  which  the  canneries 
mainly  depend  for  their  immense  pack.  Day  and  night  the  nets  are  in 
the  water,  not  only  within  the  boundaries  of  the  river,  but  over  the 
outside  bank  and  sometimes  beyond  its  margins  where  the  discolored 
water  extends  for  several  miles  in  all  directions. 

Aside  from  the  Fraser  there  are  numerous  small  rivers  belonging  to 
this  drainage,  of  which  the  greater  number  and  the  larger  ones  are  on 
the  east  side,  taking  their  rise  on  the  jiop&s  of  the  Cascade  Range. 
Those  north  of  the  Fraser  are  little  known,  but  they  end  in  large  inlets. 
In  Washington  the  most  conspicuous  is  the  Skagit,  which  is  navigable 
for  60  miles,  the  other  more  im)>ortant  ones,  beginning  at  the  north, 
being  the  Nooksack,  Stilla'guamish,  Snohomish,  Dwamish,  Puyallnp, 
and  Nisqually.  ^hese  reproduce  on  a  small  scale  the  principal  char- 
acteristics of  the  Fraser,  the  mountain  features,  the  terminal  lowlands, 
the  deltas,  and  the  flood  season  with  its  turbid  waters.  On  the  west 
side  of  Paget  Sound  and  along  the  Strait  of  Juan  de  Fuca  the  streams 
are  still  smaller,  scarcely  more  than  creeks  at  the  most,  the  highlands 
lying  closer  to  the  coast  and  greatly  restricting  the  width  of  the  drain- 
age area.  The  inner  side  of  Vancouver  Island  has  only  two  rivers  qC 
any  moment,  the  Gowichan  and  Naimiiuo. 

F  C  W 17 


'I'i 

11 


I: 


If 


i   1 
]  i 


258       REPORT   OP   COMMISSIONER   OF   FI8H  AND   FISHERIES. 


FISHERY  RESOURCES. 

The  fishery  resources  of  this  region  comprise  a  wide  variety  of  prod- 
ucts belonging  to  both  the  sea  and  its  tributary  fresh  waters,  many  of 
which  are  exceedingly  abundant  and  some  of  high  commercial  value. 
As  is  naturally  to  be  expected,  however,  in  a  comparatively  new  country, 
still  having  a  small  population,  the  development  of  these  resources  has 
so  far  been  directed  mainly  toward  a  few 'forms  especially  adapted  for 
export  trade. 

In  this  respect  the  activities  have  been  very  marked  during  recent 
years  and  substantial  progress  has  been  made  in  building  up  a  remu- 
nerative industry  whose  permanency  may  be  insured  by  wise  and  con- 
servative measures  of  control,  even  though  its  further  growth  should 
cause  somewhat  heavy  drafts  upon  the  stock.  Still  other  lines  promise 
good  returns  foi  the  successful  preparation  of  certain  products  suited 
for  distant  sale,  but  not  until  the  region  shall  have  become  much  more 
thickly  settled  can  its  rich  fishery  opportunities  be  measured  at  their 
full  value.  There  is  a  host  of  species  requiring  near  markets  to  be 
utilized,  whose  abundance  is  sufficient  to  contribute  in  due  proportion 
toward  the  sustenance  of  an  extensive  population.  As  the  time  when 
such  conditions  may  be  expected  to  prevail  is  probably  far  distant,  a 
large  share  of  these  resources  must  continue  long  in  reserve,  a  guaranty 
for  the  ftiture! 

Besides  its  local  resources  che  region  should  also  have  credit  for  its 
advantageous  position  in  regard  to  fishing-grounds  farther  north  along 
the  coast,  for  which  it  is  the  nearest  outlet,  and  with  whose  development 
it  Is  sure  to  become  most  intimately  associated.  Its  convenient  harbors 
and  railroad  facilities  give  it  superior  facilities  for  the  handling  and 
transshipment  of  any  catch  that  may  be  landed  on  its  shore. 

The  salmon  here,  as  elsewhere  along  the  northwest  coast,  are  the 
principal  objects  of  fishery,  no  other  group  of  species  comparing  with 
them  in  the  extent  and  value  of  the  catch.  This  resuHs  from  their 
phenomenal  abundance,'  the  perfection  to  which  their  preparation  has 
been  carried,  and,  above  all,  from  the  firm  hold  which  the  canned  product 
has  secured  in  the  markets  throughout  the  world.  Five  species  of 
Oncorhynchus  and  one  of  Salmo  are  represented,  the  quinnat,  sockeye, 
silver,  humpback,  dog,  and  steelhead  salmon.  The  quinnat  is  first  in 
quality  and,  with  the  steelhead,  stands  most  in  favor  for  the  fresh 
trade.  Ganners  prefer  the  sockeye,  and  would  use  liO  other  species 
could  this  one  be  obtained  in  sufficient  numbers  to  satisfy  their  wants 
The  remaining  forms,  after  the  common  understanding  of  to-day,  should 
probably  be  graded  in  the  order  given  above.  The  silver  salmon  is 
most  sought  after,  but  all  are  utilized  for  canning — especially  on  the 
Washington  side — and  in  other  ways.  It  is  a  peculiarity  of  the  sockeye 
or  blueback  salmon  that  it  enters  very  few  of  tho  rivers  of  this  region, 
while  the  other  species  distribute  themselves  quite  generally  and  may 
be  taken  nearly  everywhere. 

The  halibut  should  probably  be  accorded  next  place  after  the  nalmons, 


FISHERIES   OP   WASHINGTON   AND   BRITISH   COLUMBIA.      259 


nions, 


not  80  much  on  accoant  of  the  local  industry  as  for  the  fact  that  the 
entire  halibut  fishery  from  Cape  Flattery  to  Alaska  centers  here.  The 
local  grounds  are  mainly  distributed  through  the  Strait  of  Juan  de 
Fuca,  and  from  its  inner  entrance  north  to  Boundary  Bay  and  south  to 
the  mouth  of  Hoods  Canal.  The  most  important  nearby  bank,  however, 
is  in  the  open  sea  off  Cape  Flattery,  and  other  smaller  banks  lie  directly 
south  from  there. 

With  the  recent  increased  demand  for  halibut,  the  search  for  more 
extensive  grounds  was  carried  northward.  The  nearest  one  was  located 
oil'  the  northern  end  of  Vancouver  Island  in  the  vicinity  of  Cape  Scott, 
but  its  area  is  restricted  and  its  capacity  relatively  small.  The  most 
important  grounds  so  far  discovered  are  in  Hecate  Strait  and  its  vicin- 
ity, and  it  is  here  that  the  principal  catches  have  been  made  in  recent 
years.  They  consist  of  numerous  banks  and  patches,  generally  near 
the  land,  on  both  sides  of  the  strait,  the  largest  extending  60  miles 
along  the  northern  side  of  Graham  Island  from  Korth  Island  to  Rose 
Point,  and  thence  down  the  eastern  sida  of  Graham  Island  to  the 
vicinity  of  White  Cliffs.  Among  the  island.)  of  southeastern  Alaska  and 
about  the  southern  end  of  Prince  of  Wales  Island,  small  quantities  of 
halibut  are  taken,  but  the  Alaskan  region  is  still  open  to  development 
as  regards  this  species. 

While  halibut  fishing  has  always  been  one  of  the  chief  occupations 
of  the  Indians  in  the  Strait  of  Juan  de  Fuca  and  the  inner  sea,  the 
present  status  of  the  fishery  has  been  the  result  of  rapid  growth  dating 
back  only  about  ten  years,  or  to  1888,  when  it  received  its  principal 
stimulus  through  the  advent  of  two  Gloucester  vessels,  which  began 
fishing  on  Flattery  Bank  and  in  the  adjacent  region.  Although  tbe 
work  of  these  vessels  was  not  long  continued,  it  gave  evidence  of 
abuixdant  resources  and  led  to  the  opening  of  markets  even  as  far 
distuut  as  Boston  and  Gloucester  oh  the  eastern  coast,  where  the 
we:^:em  product  came  directly  into  competition  with  that  from  tbe 
grent  Atlantic  fishing- grounds. 

In  1890  the  total  catch  from  all  sources  landed  in  this  region  amounted 
to  1,376,800  pounds;  in  1891  to  2,124,500  pounds;  in  1892  to  2,768,00(» 
pounds,  and  in  1895  to  4,251,000  pounds.  Tbe  fleet,  which  had  doubled 
in  four  years,  consisted  in  1895  of  48  boats  of  5  to  10  tons  measure- 
ment, of  10  vessels  measuring  from  18  to  40  tons,  and  of  3  steamers. 
Only  the  larger  vessels  and  the  steamers  ventured  as  far  as  Cape  Scott 
and  the  Queen  Charlotte  Islands.  The  steam  vessels  have  belonged 
entirely  in  British  Columbia,  their  catch  being  landed  at  Vancouver, 
Victoria,  and  Tacoma,  and  in  1895  having  comprised  a  very  large  pro- 
portion of  the  total  catch,  but  their  operations  are  controlled  by  com- 
panies originating  in  the  Eastern  States. 

Port  Townseud  was  the  first  headquarters  for  the  halibut  fishery, 
but  during  the  past  few  years  Seattle  and  Tacoma,  with  their  direct 
railroad  communication,  have  absorbed  nearly  the  dntire  business  on 
the  part  of  United  States  fishermen.    Within  two  years,  however,  a 


"i 


260       REPORT   OP   COMMISSIONER   OP   PISH   AND   PI8HERIES. 


few  small  shipments  have  been  made  from  Fairhaven  aud  New  What- 
com. Fishing  is  carried  on  most  extensively  in  the  winter,  and  nearly 
all  the  catch  is  landed  fresh,  only  an  occasional  trip  being  wade  for 
fletched  halibut. 

The  main  outlet  for  the  Pacific  catch  is  furnished  by  the  Eastern 
markets,  and  is  thus  controlled  by  the  large  Eastern  dealers,  the  sbi[>- 
ments  being  mainly  made  at  seasons  when  the  Atlantic  catch  is  small- 
est. The  cost  of  transportation  across  the  continent  greatly  reduces 
the  profit  to  the  catchers,*  who  have  to  be  satisfied  with  low  prices,  and 
who  sometimes  suffer  considerable  losses  by  producing  more  than  the 
trade  can  handle.  The  demand,  both  at  the  East  and  in  the  interior  of 
the  country  is  said,  however,  to  be  constantly  increasing,  aud,  if  heed 
be  given  to  the  condition  of  the  market  at  different  seasons,  there  is 
every  reason  to  suppose  that  the  development  of  the  fishery  may  go 
forward  steadily  and  without  reverses. 

While  this  fishery  is  assured  a  much  larger  growth,  that  it  will  ever 
approach  the  Atlantic  fishery  in  extent  or  stand  the  same  test  of  time 
seems  improbable.  The  grounds  in  the  Gulf  of  Georgia,  Fuget  Sound, 
aud  Strait  of  Fuca,  with  those  off  Cape  Flattery,  have  all  together  only 
a  relatively  small  capacity,  which  has  already  been  overtaxed.  Along 
the  British  Columbian  and  southern  Alaskan  coast  the  continental 
platform  is  everywhere  narrow,  iirecluding  the  occurrence  of  extensive 
offshore  grounds.  On  the  Alatikan  banks  still  farther  north,  made 
known  through  the  cod  fishermen  and  the  investigations  of  the  United 
States  Fish  Commission,  halibut  have  not  yet  been  found  in  the  abun- 
dance characteristic  of  the  North  Atlantic,  though  further  researches 
may  show  the  conditions  to  be  more  favorable  than  now  appears.  But, 
however  uncertain  may  be  the  future  status  of  this  important  branch  of 
fishing,  the  supply  of  halibut  is  undoubtedly  sufficient  to  satisfy  the 
demands  of  trade  for  a  number  of  years  to  come. 

While  the  true  cod  is  of  no  importance  as  a  local  product,  yet  this 
region  affords  convenient  shipping  facilities  in  respect  to  the  Alaska 
banks  and  will  doubtless  soon  come  to  dispute  with  San  Francisco  for 
supremacy  in  their  development.  Two  or  more  stations  for  curing  and 
handling  this  species  have  already  been  established  in  Puget  Sound. 

Two  species  of  sturgeon  occur  in  these  waters,  the  white  sturgeon 
{Acipenser  transmontanus)  and  the  green  sturgeon  {A.  medirostris),  the 
former  being  the  superior  in  quality  and  the  only  one  utilized  as  food. 
It  is  exceedingly  abundant,  attains  a  very  large  size,  and  is  regarded 
as  one  of  the  most  important  fishery  products  of  the  region.  While 
probably  ascending  most  rivers,  it  is  best  known  on  the  Fraser,  where 
alone  it  is  now  fished  for  regularly.  Elsewhere  in  British  Columbia 
and  in  the  waters  of  Washington  it  forms  only  an  incidental  feature 
of  the  catch,  so  far  as  could  be  learned,  a  few  finding  their  way  to 
neighboring  markets  and  some  being  sent  inland.  Manj'  are  sometimes 
captured  in  the  salmon  traps  at  Point  Roberts,  by  which  a  part  of  the 
schools  pass,  apparently  on  their  way  to  the  Fraser  River.    The  season 


jta^i 


FISHERIES   OP   WASHINGTON   AND    BRITISH   COLUMBIA.      26l 

of  their  moveinent  there,  however,  seems  to  be  mainly  before  the  traps 
are  set,  in  May  and  June,  and  those  obtained  are  mostly  secured  during 
the  latter  month.  The  facilities  for  shipping  from  that  place  are  so 
poor  that  no  disi)Osition  was  made  of  them  until  recently,  but  now  a 
part  of  the  catch  is  marketed. 

Sturgeon  are  said  to  be  piesei>t  in  the  Fraser  Biver  at  practically  all 
times  of  the  year,  but  to  occur  most  numerously  from  midwinter  until 
in  June,  during  which  period  the  fishery  is  carried  on,  the  largest 
catches  being  made  in  April  and  May,  when  the  principal  run  is  under- 
stood to  take  place.  The  fishing-grounds  most  commonly  resorted  to 
are  in  the  main  river  between  New  Westminster  and  Mission,  and  in 
Sumas  and  Harrison  lakes.  Formerly  the  sturgeon  were  taken  on  the 
Fraser  River  solely  by  the  Indians  for  their  own  use,  and  incidentally 
in  the  salmon  nets.  It  is  only  within  a  few  years  that  a  separate 
fishery  has  been  established,  but  at  present  quite  a  number  of  persons, 
whites  and  Indians,  engage  in  the  business,  using  gill  nets  and  hooks 
and  lines.  Both  the  meat  and  roe  are  utilized.  The  demand  for  export 
is  increasing,  and  in  the  course  of  a  few  years  it  may  be  expected  that 
the  catch  will  be  considerably  enlarged. 

The  herring  {Clupea  pallaaii)  is  one  of  the  most  abundant  of  the 
exclusively  marine  species  of  this  coast,  but  is  described  as  generally 
inferior  in  size  and  quality  to  the  well-known  Atlantic  form.  For  this 
reason  probably  it  is  not  in  much  demand  for  food,  a  limited  quantity 
only  being  pickled  and  smoked,  and  a  few  disposed  of  fresh.  It  is,  how- 
ever, one  of  the  most  important  baits  of  the  region,  and  its  value  for 
that  purpose  may  be  expected  to  increase  greatly  with  the  development 
of  the  sea  fisbei'ies.  It  has  also  long  been  utilized  for  the  manufacture  of 
oil,  but,  while  a  considerable  industry  of  this  character  was  at  one  time 
carried  on,  the  business  seems  at  present  to  be  of  slight  importance. 

The  dogfish  is  another  species  which  has  been  extensively  captured 
for  its  oil,  and  in  this  case,  as  with  the  herring,  the  fishery  has  declined, 
owing  to  the  decreased  value  of  this  product,  the  fish  being  probably 
as  abundant  now  as  ever. 

The  eulachon  or  candle-fish  enter  the  Fraser  River  in  the  spring  in 
large  numbers  for  spawning,  and  although  the  run  continues  for  only  a 
few  weeks,  a  <;ousiderable  fishery  is  carried  on.  They  also  resort  to 
other  rivers  of  the  region,  and  may  be  taken  in  the  salt  waters,  but  the 
catch  in  the  State  of  Washington  ii^  small.  The  amount  obtained  on 
the  Fraser,  owing  in  part  to  the  shortness  of  the  season,  is  said  to  be 
insufficient  to  meet  the  demands  of  even  the  local  markets,  which  have 
to  depend  largely  for  their  supplies  upon  the  more  northern  rivers  of 
Bri^^'sh  Columbia,  where  the  species  occurs  in  much  greater  abundance. 
Th  oO  obtained  locally  are  mostly  disposed  of  fresh,  while  the  salted 
and  smoked  fish  come  mainly  from  the  north.  The  Indian  practice  of 
extracting  the  fat  or  oil  of  the  eulachon  for  domestic  use  is  well  known. 

The  smelt  (Oamerua  thaleichthys)  and  surf  smelt  {ffypomeniis  prctiosus) 
are  both  ])lentiful.    The  former,  which  measure/S  only  about  6  inches 


iJ: 


I  s 
i  i 


262        REPORT   OF   COMMISSIONER   OF    FISH   AND   FISHERIES. 


in  length,  is  not  of  much  importance  for  food,  but  the  latter  grows  to 
the  length  of  a  foot,  becomes  very  fat,  and  is  greatly  esteemed.  It  is 
already  fished  for  quite  extensively,  but  apparently  for  local  use  only. 

Both  the  sardine  (Olupanodon  cceruleua)  and  the  anchovy  {Engraulis 
mordax)  are  inhabitants  of  these  waters.  The  former,  which  has 
attracted  considerable  attention  on  the  California  coast,  seems  to  be 
present  here  only  during  a  brief  period  in  the  warmer  part  of  the  year. 
The  anchovy,  however,  remains  from  May  to  November,  is  more 
abundant,  occnrring  in  immense  schools,  and  is  considered  to  offer  an 
exceptional  opportunity  for  the  preparation  Of  "  sardines."  A  few, 
which  were  canned  experimentally  at  Port  Townsend,  are  said  to  have 
given  great  satisfaction.  The  species  is  now  utilized  to  some  extent 
both  as  food  and  bait. 

The  beshow  or  hlack-cod  {Anoplopoma  fimbria),  which  has  received 
the  high  approval  of  many  epicures,  and  for  which  an  extensive  fishery 
has  been  predicted  by  some,  occurs  in  the  inland  waters,  bnt  is  more 
abundant  off  the  outer  coast,  where  it  also  attains  much  the  larger  size. 
Up  to  the  present  tim^,  however,  it  has  been  marketed  only  in  small 
quantities  and  with  no  regularity,  the  catch  being  partly  made  in  con- 
nection with  the  halibut.  The  very  oily  nature  of  the  flesh  makes  its 
preparation  difficult,  and  has  undoubtedly  retarded  its  introduction. 

The  c(iItus-cod  {Ophiodon  elongatus),  although  not  ranking  as  a  high- 
grade  fish,  has  excellent  qualities  at  certain  seasons,  is  very  abundant, 
and  is  one  of  the  most  common  features  of  the  catch  among  the  exclu- 
sively salt-water  species,  being  commonly  sold  in  all  the  local  markets. 
It  has  a  wide  range  in  the  North  Pe  'fie  Ocean,  and  attains  a  weight  of 
60  to  70  pounds.  In  this  region  it  often  goes  by  the  name  of  cod  and 
ling,  to  neither  of  which  species,  however,  is  it  closely  related. 

The  tomcod  {Microgadiis  proximus),  a  small  species,  is  also  in  consid- 
erable demand  locally,  and  in  some  places  is  taken  by  the  fishermen 
in  large  numbers. 

Of  the  numerous  species  of  rockfish  (Sebastodea)  which  inhabit  this 
region,  several  are  of  excellent  quality  and  much  esteemed.  They  are 
very  plentiful,  and  during  the  winter  are  among  the  principal  fishes  sold 
fresh  in  the  local  markets.  With  the  increase  of  population  this  group 
is  certain  to  be  largely  drawn  upon.  The  perches,  as  some  of  the 
viviparous  surf  fishes  are  called,  are  a  cheap  grade  of  fish,  very  common 
about  the  shores,  and  extensively  utilized.  Among  the  dounders  with 
which  these  waters  abound  are  several  species  of  great  excellence  for 
food,  but  the  demand  for  this  class  of  fish  is  still  limited  and  the  catch 
is  small. 

The  Atlantic  shad,  which  has  become  well  established  on  the  Pacific 
coast  through  plants  of  fry  made  in  the  Columbia  and  Sacramento 
rivers,  has  worked  its  way  north  into  Puget  Sound  and  the  Gulf  of 
Georgia,  where  it  is  known  to  enter  at  least  the  Fraser  and  Skagit 
rivers.  Not  being  specially  fished  for,  information  regarding  its  pres- 
ence is  chiefly  based  upon  specimens  caught  incidentally  and  mainly  in 
the  salmon  nets,  which  are  not  well  adapted  to  its  capture.    It  was  first 


FISHERIES   OP  WASHINGTON  AND   BRITISH   COLUMBiA.       263 


noticed  in  1888  on  the  Eraser  Ri ,  er,  where  in  1896  it  had  become  saffl- 
cieiitly  abundant  to  induce  the  fishery  inspector  to  suggest  regulations 
governing  its  capture.  It  seems  bound  to  occupy  a  prominent  place 
among  the  food-fishes  of  this  region  at  no  very  distant  time. 

Trout  of  several  varieties  are  distributed  in  abundance  thronghout 
the  fresh  waters,  an  attraction  to  anglers  and  a  prospective  source  iff 
profit  when  the  country  shall  have  become  more  thiclcly  settled. 

Aside  from  the  sea  otter,  now  extinct,  the  marine  mammals  Lave 
never  figured  prominently  among  the  local  fishery  products,  although 
some  whaling  has  been  carried  on.  The  pelagic  fur-seal  fishery  of  the 
North  Pacific  Ocean,  however,  has  chiefly  centered  in  the  ports  of  this 
region,  furnishing  employmoit  to  many  hunters  and  producing  a  con- 
siderable revenue,  but  its  continuance  is  no  longer  profitable,  in  what- 
ever way  its  future  may  be  settled  by  negotiations. 

Among  invertebrates  this  region  is  quite  rich  in  edible  mollusks  and 
crustaceans.  The  small  native  oyster,  while  occurring  in  many  places, 
is  especially  abundant  in  the  shallow  extensions  of  the  southern  part  of 
Puget  Sound,  where  tbe  bed^  have  recently  been  given  some  care  and 
where  quite  an  extensive  business  has  been  established.  The  intro- 
duction of  the  Atlantic  species  has  been  agi':ated  and  a  few  small 
plants  have  been  made,  but  none  of  these  has  yet  turned  out  success- 
fully, so  far  as  can  be  learned.  Of  clams  there  are  several  species  of 
small  to  large  size,  some  of  which  are  exceedingly  abundant  and  quite 
generally  distributed.  Although  constituting  an  important  resource, 
and  esteenred  both  for  food  and  bait,  they  have  not  been  very  exten- 
sively utilized  up  to  thn  present  time.  Small  quantities  have  been  put 
np  from  time  to  time  at  one  or  more  of  the  canneries.  A  large  scallop 
and  a  cockle  are  also  conspicuous  among  the  useful  mollusks. 

Large  crabs  belonging  to  the  genus  Cancer  are  very  common,  and  at 
certain  seasons  come  up  on  the  shores,  in  some  localities  in  large  num- 
bers. They  are  in  great  demand  for  food  and  are  eagerly  sought  for, 
although  the  total  catch  is  small.  Tbe  principal  if  not  the  only 
ground  where  they  are  now  regularly  fished  for  is  the  shallow  bottom 
along  the  south  shore  of  the  Strait  of  Jnande  Fuca  between  Dunge- 
ness  and  Port  Williams.  From  there  they  are  sent  chiefly  to  Seattle, 
Tacoma,  and  Victoria,  but  not  being  fitted  to  stand  a  long  shipment 
they  are  scarcely  known  at  a  distance  from  the  coast. 

Shrimps  and  prawns  of  good  quality  seem  to  be  plentiful,  but  they 
are  n«'>t  much  fished  for,  and  little  information  regarding  them  could  be 
obtained.  The  habits  of  these  forms  are  such  as  to  place  them  gener- 
ally outside  the  ordinary  range  of  observation,  so  that  fishermen  may 
be  scarcely  aware  of  their  presence,  when  an  active  search  might  dis- 
close them  in  abundance.  At  least  two  species  of  prawns  are  brought 
to  market,  one  of  rather  large  size,  the  other  smaller.  They  have  so 
far  been  taken  princii>ally  about  Victoria  and  in  the  southern  part  ot 
Puget  Sound,  tbe  catch  being  generally  quite  inadequate  to  satisfy 
the  demand.    The  shrimps  are  umch  smaller  and  are  not  fished  for. 


if 


I  '■« 


264       REPORT   OP  COMMISSIONER   OF    PISH   AND    FISHERIES. 


THE  SALMONS. 


SOOKEYE  SALMON. 

The  sockeye  salmon,  as  the  blaeback  salmon  or  redflsh,  the  Onco- 
rhynchua  nc^rA-a  (Walbaum)  of  naturalists,  is  known  in  this  region,  is 
here  much  the  i^ost  i'nportant  of  its  tribe,  being  especially  in  demand 
for  canning  purposes,  owing  to  the  depth  and  stability  of  its  color  and 
the  firmness  of  its  flesh,  although  in  edible  qualities  it  ranks  below  the 
quinnat.  Jt  has,  moreover,  quite  regular  and  well-defined  movements, 
and,  beginning  to  run  at  a  comparatively  early  date,  it  affords  a  con- 
siderable fishery  so  far  in  advance  of  the  spawning  season  as  to  insure 
an  excellent  quality  of  catch.  Its  size  is  also  in  its  favor,  being  quite 
uniform.  In  the  Fraser  River  it  generally  averages  about  7  to  8  pounds, 
though  sometimes  weighing  not  ov^r  6  pounds,  and  occasionally,  but 
rarely,  reaching  10  and  even  12  pounds. 

IN  THE   SALT  WATER. 

The  sockeye  which  frequent  the  Gulf  of  Georgia  and  Puget  Sound 
are  supposed  by  the  fishermen  to  enter  from  the  ocean  exclusively 
through  the  Strait  of  Juan  de  Fuca,  and  such  few  facts  bearing  upon  the 
subject  as  have  been  collected  tend  to  confirm  this  view.  The  species 
has  never  been  observed  in  the  upper  part  of  the  Gulf,  and  very  rarely, 
if  at  all,  to  the  north  of  Point  Grey,  at  the  entrance  to  Burrnrd  Inlet. 
Some  sockeye,  which  are  said  to  average  smaller  than  those  of  the 
Fraser  River  run,  enter  the  passageway  at  the  northern  end  of  Van- 
couver Island  and  ascend  thp  Nimkish  River  at  Alert  Bay,  and  possibly 
other  small  rivers  in  that  locality,  but  none  of  these  fish  appear  to 
reach  the  Gulf  of  Georgia. 

On  the  outer  coast,  both  to  the  north  and  south  of  the  entrance  to 
the  Strait  of  Juan  de  Fuca,  there  are  still  other  runs  which  are  also 
distinguished  by  the  smaller  size  of  the  fish,  averaging  from  4  to  5 
pounds  apiece.  Very  little  is  known  regarding  their  abundance  or 
habits,  as  the  region  is  sparsely  settled,  but  they  are  reported  to  enter 
only  certain  rivers,  those  having  lakes  in  their  upper  courses.  All  of 
these  rivers  are  small,  but  some  of  them,  on  the  Vancouver  Island 
coast  at  least,  are  ap  parently  resorted  to  by  sufficient  quantities  of  fish 
for  the  maintenance  of  canneries  on  a  small  scale.  Operations  of  this 
character  were  started  in  1895  on  Kennedy  River,  a  short  clear  stream 
draining  a  lake  of  the  same  name  and  emptying  into  the  southern  end 
of  Clayoquot  Sound.  The  season  there  is  said  to  correspond  with  that  on 
the  Fraser  River,  extending  from  early  in  July  until  the  last  of  August, 
but  south  of  r-\pe  Flattery  an  earlier  period  is  given  for  the  commence- 
ment of  the  runs,  though  on  somewhat  doubtful  authority. 

All  of  the  evidence  collected  goes  to  show  that  the  sockeye  entering 
the  Gulf  of  Georgia  and  Puget  Sound  constitute  a  distinct  run,  which, 
approp.t.'liing  from  the  sea,  throws  oil  no  schools  toward  the  north  or 


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P18HER1R8   OF    WASHINGTON    AND    URITISH    COLUMMIA.       26f) 


south,  but])ii88e8  directly  and  in  HucccsHivu  bodies  tlirougli  the  Stniit  of 
Juan  do  Fuca  t<^)ward  tlie  spawning-groundH.  During  tUuir  passage  up 
the  strait  at  least  the  bullc  of  the  fish  appears  to  Iceep  in  tlie  deeper 
water  or  below  tite  surface  until  api)roaeliing  tlie  vicinity  of  Victoria. 
At  auy  rate,  notwithstanding  some  statemeuts  to  the  contrary,  no  reli- 
able evidence  has  been  secured  indicating  that  this  species  has  been 
seen  or  captured  farther  west.  In  view  of  the  number  of  llshing  and 
other  craft  which  navigate  this  channel,  and  the  diligent  manner  in 
which  the  sockeye  have  been  searched  for  in  vscvoral  localities,  it  would 
be  strange  if  their  occurrence  in  any  numbers  could  have  been  over- 
looked. Fu'.  .ber  observations,  however,  may  disprove  this  conclusion. 
A  run  of  sockeye  is  said  to  enter  Port  San  Juan,  opposite  Neah  Bay, 
but  it  evidpntly  belongs  to  the  coastwise  schools  of  smaller  flsh. 

The  place  where  the  flsh  are  first  known  to  disclose  themselves  is  at 
the  southeastern  corner  of  Vancouver  Island,  between  Sooke  Inlet  and 
Becher  Bay,  and  here  the  Indians  begin  their  capture,  though  their 
fishery  is  a  very  small  one.  This  point  is  regarded  rather  in  the  light 
of  a  signal  station  from  which  the  approach  of  the  first  as  also  of  the 
succeeding  bodies  is  heralded  to  the  more  important  stations  farther 
along  their  course.  News  from  Becher  Bay  is  anxiously  awaited,  and 
its  receipt  hastens  the  final  preparations  for  the  large  and  active  fishery 
which  immediately  follows. 

They  next  appear  off  Bace  Bocks,  where,  however,  the  tidal  currents 
are  so  strong  that  fishing  operati<»iis  have  never  been  successfully 
carried  on. 

Having' completed  their  journey  through  the  strait  the  great  bulk  of 
the  sockeye  turn  northward,  having  the  Fraser  River  as  their  destina- 
tion, the  number  which  enters  the  fresh  waters  in  the  State  of  Wash- 
ington being  relatively  small.  In  their  movement  north  the  schools 
divide  or  separate,  so  as  to  make  use  of  the  two  principal  chnnnels  on 
either  side  of  the  San  Juan  Islands,  the  Canal  de  Haro  and  Rosario 
Strait,  but  they  avoid  the  narrower  passage\\  ays  between  these  islands. 

In  the  Canal  de  Haro  the  sockeye  have  been  noticed  at  several  points 
along  the  shore  of  San  Juan  Island,  especially  off  Kanaka  Bay  and  in 
the  neighborhood  of  Henry  Island,  but  all  attempts  at  fishing  in  this 
section  by  the  whites  have  so  far  met  with  indifferent  success.  The 
Indians  take  them  in  their  reef  nets  about  Stuart  Island,  and  they  have 
been  recorded  from  off  Saturna  Island.  It  i»  probable  that  the  main 
run  works  into  the  Crulf  of  Georgia  through  the  wider  channels 
between  these  islands,  but  it  is  also  certain  that  a  considerable  body 
makes  use  of  Plumper  or  Active  Pass,  between  Mayne  and  Galiano 
islands,  which  is  the  most  direct  route  to  the  Fraser  River  mouths.  It 
is  said,  however,  that  no  sockeye  pass  to  the  west  of  Salt  Spring  or 
Admiral  Island,  and  the  species  is  understood  to  avoid  entirely  the 
eastern  coast  and  eastern  rivers  of  Vancouver  Island. 

The  sockeye  making  for  Rosario  Strait  strike  in  abundantly  off  Cattle 
Point,  at  the  southeastern  corner  of  San  Juan  Island,  furnishing  oppor- 


266        REPORT    OF   COMMISSIONER   OF    FISH   AND    FISHERIES. 


iuuities  for  trap-Bet  flsbiug,  and  also  off  the  soutlieru  end  of  Lopez 
Island,  directly  east  of  San  Juan  Channel  entrance,  where  for  many 
years  the  Indians  hava  made  successful  catches  on  the  kelp-covered 
reef8.  From  near  this  point  an  offshoot  of  the  run  makes  through 
l^eception  Pass  into  Skagit  Bay  and  thence  reaches  the  Skagit  Biver, 
^^hich,  so  far  as  known,  is  the  only  stream  in  this  part  of  Washington 
which  the  sockeye  enter  in  appreciable  numbers,  but  the  quantity  is 
much  smaller  than  in  the  Eraser  River.  Some  sockeye  work  farther 
Eiouth,  but  where  they  leave  the  main  run  is  not  known  and  the  quantity 
that  moves  in  that  direction  is  Insignificant.  They  have  never  been 
reported  from  the  salt  waters  of  Puget  Sound  south  of  the  neighborhood 
of  the  San  Juan  Islands,  but  have  been  observed  in  one  or  more  of  the 
small  rivers  which  empty  into  it  in  that  region.  > 

The  main  eastern  run,  after  passing  around  the  southern  end  of  the 
San  Juan  group,  proceeds  up  through  Bosario  Strait  and  alon?  the 
mainland  of  Washington  to  Boundary  Bay  aad'Point  Roberts.  During 
the  first  part  of  this  movement,  however,  the  fish  seem  to  keep  mostly 
out  of  sight,  to  the  great  bewilderment  of  the  fishermen,  who  have 
been  much  puzzled  at  their  failure  to  find  good  places  for  intercepting 
them.  Tbey  have  been  reported  in  small  quantities  at  .the  entrance 
to  Belliugham  Bay,  but  in  Rosario  Strait  there  are  no  distinctive 
places  where  they  have  been  noticed  abundantly  before  reaching  the 
northern  end  of  Lummi  Island.  Here  they  strike  directly  on  the  outer 
shore  south  of  Village  Point,  where  there  is  an  important  flslnng-ground, 
both  for  reef  nets  and  traps,  which  has  long  been  resorted  to  by 
the  Indians.  Thence  northward  along  the  mainland  shore  *as  fiir  as 
Boundary  Bay  they  appear  at  intervals,  but  while  nets  have  been  set 
for  their  capture  on  some  of  the  more  prominent  points,  none  of  these 
bad  given  satisfaction  up  to  1895,  but  whether  on  account  of  faulty 
construction  or  the  scarcity  of  fish  was  not  learned.  The  fishermen, 
however,  have  been  encouraged  to  renewed  attempts  in  this  section  and 
may  yet  succeed. 

Boundary  Bay  and  the  waters  about  Point  Roberts  constitute  a 
grand  parade-ground  of  the  sockeye,  as  it  is  here  that  the  species 
uncovers  itself  in  the  greatest  numbers  in  the  salt  water  and  to  the 
best  advantage  for  its  pursuers.  The  quantity  that  appears  at  times 
is  very  large,  and  the  catch  may  be  enormous.  The  abrupt  bending  of 
the  coast  line  toward  the  west  in  this  locality  interposes  a  barrier 
directly  across  the  pathway  of  the  fish,  suddenly  <  becking  their  prog- 
ress toward  the  north  and  obliging  them  to  mi.Ke  a  sharp  detour  in 
order  to  complete  their  passage  to  the  Fraser  River.  They  ent  ir 
Boundary  Bay  apparently  in  a  broad  front,  and  then  turn  westward, 
sweeping  around  Point  Roberts.  Tho  nearness  of  their  approach  to 
land  dei)end8  upon  the  depth  of  water  and  the  direction  of  the  wind. 
A  southerly  wind  tends  to  drive  them  farther  in  the  bay,  while  a 
northerly  wind  holds  them  out.  Tbey  may  enter  the  bay  as  far  as  the 
edge  of  the  flats,  thus  crossing  the  boundary  line  to  a  slight  extent,  but 


FISHERIES    OP   WASHINGTON   AND    BRITISH    COLUMBIA.       267 

the  small  catches  made  in  the  inner  traps,  and  then  onlj'  under  the 
most  favorable  conditions,  indicate  their  natural  tendency  to  avoid 
the  shallower  water.  Along  the  soatberii  side  of  Point  Eoberts  the 
much  bolder  shore  permits  the  fish  to  come  within  a  few  yards  of  the 
beach,  and  this  is  also  true  for  a  short  distance  on  the  outer  Hide,  after 
rounding  the  southwest  corner;  but  then  soon  begins  the  shoal  or  flat, 
which  widens  rapidly  to  form  the  extensive  bank  commanding  the 
approaches  to  the  Fraser  River. 

Much  remains  to  be  learned  regarding  the  later  as  well  as  the  earlier 
stages  in  the  movement  of  the  sock^i/e  which  pass  through  Kosario 
Strait.  While  the  appearance  of  extensive  schools  in  Boundary  Bay 
and  about  Point  Roberts  is  definitely  established  through  the  experi- 
ences of  the  fishermen,  it  can  not  be  said  that  the  entire  eastern  run 
approaches  those  localities  so  as  to  come  within  the  range  of  observa- 
tion, and  it  is  very  possibl«>  that  some  of  the  schools  make  the  passage 
to  the  Fraser  River  at  some  little  distance  from  the  land.  In  fact, 
judging  from  the  statements  of  the  fishermen,  when  large  bodies  of 
fish  are  moving  around  the  point  they  occupy  a  wide  zone,  extending 
some  distance  ofi'  shore  and  beyond  the  limits  of  the  trap  nets.  The 
latter  are,  therefore,  said  to  intercept  only  a  very  small  proportion  of 
the  run,  notwithstanding  the  amount  of  ground  they  cover.  The 
schools  on  which  the  fishermen  depend  are  chieflj"^  those  which  enter 
well  within  the  bay  and,  then  circling,  pass  directly  in  front  and  within 
a  mile  or  slightly  more  of  the  southeast  corner  of  Point  Roberts,  called 
Cannery  Point,  which  carries  them  over  or  around  the  large  kelp- 
covered  ledge  south  of  taat  point.  Their  course  is  thence  along  tiie 
southern  side  of  Point  Roberts,  keeping  well  in  until  they  have  rounded 
the  southwest  corner,  when  they  begin  to  follow  the  edge  of  Roberts 
Bank  (so  called),  over  the  deeper  parts  of  which  they  soon  become 
distributed. 

The  meetfng-place  of  the  two  divisions  of  the  sockeye  run — one 
coming  throui^h  the  Canal  de  Haro,  the  other  through  Rosario  Strait — 
is  not  known.  Both  are  seeking  the  fresh  water  of  the  Fraser  River 
and  begin  to  feel  its  influence  some  distance  off  the  shore.  The  flood 
which  begins  in  tiie  late  spring  couti  auqs  during  most  of  the  summer, 
so  swelling  the  volume  of  the  river  and  charging  it  with  fine  sediment 
that  the  brackish  and  discolored  water  is  carried  a  long  way  out  into 
the  Gulf  of  Georgia  and  covers,  during  practically  the  entire  sockeye 
season,  a  relatively  wide  area.  In  this  mixed  water  both  runs  assemble 
preparatory  to  ascendiwg  the  river.  It  is  also  a  common  belief  among 
the  fishermen  that  they  rest  here  for  several  days,  or  at  least  that  all 
do  not  immediately  begin  the  inland  journey.  While  there  is  as  yet  no 
positive  proof  of  this,  it  is  not  oat  of  keeping  with  the  habit  of  some  of 
the  salmon  species  elsewhere,  and  the  prolonged  periods  of  fishing 
which  are  enjoyed  in  this  position  make  it  appear  at  least  reasonable. 
The  extent  of  this  asaemblinrj- ground,  as  brought  out  by  the' recent 
drift-net  fishery,  is  from  tiie  neighborhood  of  Point  Grey  to  about  the 


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268       REPORT   OF   COMMISSIONER   OF   FISH   AND    FISHERIES. 

boundary  line,  while  off  shore  it  seems  to  reach  beyond  the  margin  of 
the  bank  and  even  at  times  to  the  middle  of  the  gulf,  if  the  fishermen's 
accounts  can  be  regarded  as  reliable.  It  is  also  reiK)rted,  though  the 
fact  is  not  definitely  confirmed,  that  occasionally  a  few  of  the  fish  work 
around  Point  Grey  iuto  Burrard  Inlet. 

'  Scarcely  anything  has  been  learned  of  the  general  habits  of  the 
sockeye  in  salt  water.  They  take  neither  food  nor  bait  and  therefore 
lack  the  game  qualities  of  the  quinnat  and  the  silver  salmon.  Unlike 
those  two  species,  their  salt-water  home  is  exclusively  in  th'^  opeu 
ocean  oflF  the  outer  coast.  When  they  enter  the  Strait  of  ^''ac  t  -jy 
are  bound  by  the  shortest  routes  to  their  spawning-grounds,  : '  I'i  )i ..  ■  ''■■ 
tarry  on  the  way  it  is  only  tor  short  stops  in  the  manner  desciibed 
above.  The  Strait  of  Juan  de  Fuca,  Puget  Soun  .,  and  the  Gulf  of 
Georgia  are  to  them  practically  only  enlargements  of  tlie  river,  through 
which  they  must  necessarily  pass,  but  in  which  they  have  no  special 
functions  to  perform.  The  adult  fish  occur  there  only  during  the  period 
of  ascent,  the  season  when  they  are  fished  for,  July  and  August  mainly. 
They  appear  to  move  in  compact,  defined  bodies,  of  smaller  or  larger 
size,  sometimes  very  extensive,  another  evidence  of  their  transitory 
presence.  Occasionally  these  schools  appear  at  tlie  surface,  as- has 
been  especially  reported  at  Point  Roberts,  but  usually  they  remain 
lower  down,  although  they  may  even  then  be  seen  at  times  in  the  clear 
waters,  particular' "  when  they  are  passing  over  the  shallow  kelp- 
tovered  ledges,  which  seems  to  be  one  of  their  delights,  and  which 
exposes  them  to  capture  by  the  Indian  nets. 

Statements  regarding  the  rate  of  their  movement  in  the  salt  watoi- 
are  greatly  at  variance,  as  is  to  be  expected  from  the  crude  opportuni- 
ties for  observation  up  to  the  present  time.  Varying  conditions,  due  to 
the  season  and  the  weather,  are  very  likely  to  cause  a  difterence  in  this 
respect.  Schools  reported  at  Bechei  Bay  are  said  sometimes  to  make 
the  Eraser  Eiver  in  five  days,  while  again  they  may  be  as  much  as  two 
week'i  on  the  way.  They  may  be  taken  at  Point  Boberts  twenty-four 
hours  before  they  are  noticed  off  the  Fraser  River,  or  they  may  first  bo 
observed  simultaneously  at  both  of  thc3e  places. 


KRK8H-WATK11  I>ISTRIBUTION. 

The  Fraser  is  the  only  river  of  British  Columbia  :  ji  nng  into  tht 
Gulf  of  Georgia  which  the  sockeye  are  known  to  uooend.  lu  Wash- 
ington this  species  seems  to  enter  only  the  Ska^nt  River  in  suflicient 
quantities  for  commercial  purposes.  It  has  '  ock  repo;  red  in  very  small 
numbers  from  Lake  Washington  at  Seattle,  out  els'^v  'c  a  in  tlie  fresh 
waters  of  the  Paget  Sound  region  its  occurrenc-e  "las  rfver  been  iwsi- 
tively  recorded. 

Skagit  River.— The  number  of  sockeye  jiscending  the  Skagit  River 
seems  to  be  considerable,  although  the  run  is  in  no  way  comparable  with 
that  oil  the  Fraser  River.  They  enter  the  former  river  by  way  of  Decep- 
tion Pass  and  Skagit  Bay.    Fishing  is  mainly  carried  on  iii  the  buy. 


FISHERIES   OF   WASHINGTON   AND   BRITISH   COLUMBIA. 


269 


where  both  trap  nets  and  gill  nets  are  employed.  In  tbe  river  tbe  prin- 
cipal flsburineu  bave  been  tbe  Indians,  wbose  operations  have  been 
chiefly  limited  to  tbe  vicinity  of  Baker  Falls,  but  some  fishing  is  also 
carried  ou  by  tbe  whites.  Up  to  1895  this  species  was  taken  only  in 
relatively  small  quantities  cither  in  tbe  bay  or  river,  but  the  establish- 
ment of  canneries' at  Ana<5ortes  since  then  has- greatly  stimulated  the 
efforts  for  its  capture,  causing  a  rapid  development  of  the  fishery.  No 
details  of  its  gror:'th  are  at  hand,  but  the  size  of  the  catch  has  appar- 
ently beer  much  increased. 

The  only  spawning-grounds  which  have  so  far  been  located  in  the 
Skagit  Itiver  are  at  Baker  Lake,  on  the  tributary  of  the  same  name, 
having  its  origin  on  the  slopes  of  Mount  Baker.  It  is  the  general  opin- 
ion that  the  entire  run  turns  up  Baker  River  and  that  it  ascends  no 
farth'ir  than  the  lake,  but  this  supposition  is  not  yet  entirely  confirmed. 
The  inquiries  already  made,  however,  indicate  that  Baker  Lake  contains 
one,  of  the  most  important  spawning-grounds  of  the  sockeye  known  to 
exist  in  the  United  States,  and  advantage  hrs  recently  been  taken  of 
that  fact  to  begin  its  artificial  propagation  ir  that  locality. 

It  is  reported  that  the  sockeye  begin  to  be  taken  at  Baker  Falls,  near 
the  mouth  of  B.aker  River,  as  early  as  the  middle  of  June,  but  th's  so 
far  antedates  the  time  of  their  appearance  elsewhere  in  the  region  that 
the  evidence  seems  to  be  in  error.  They  are  also  said  to  reach  Baker 
Lake  chiefly  during  July,  and  to  begin  spawning  the  last  of  August  or 
early  in  Septeu^ber.  The  hatchery  on  Baker  Lake  was  established  by 
the  State  of  Washington  in  1890.  The  first  eggs  were  taken  on  Sep- 
tember 0  of  that  year  and  the  last  on  October  8,  when  the  capacity  of 
the  hatchery  was  reached,  tbe  total  number  obtained  being  6,500,000. 
The  season  had  not  closed,  however,  by  the  latter  date,  and  it  was 
thought  that  fully  twice  that  number  might  have  been  secaiwl  had  thefe 
been  means  for  riiriu^  icr  them.  Tne  number  of  fry  obtained  from  the 
above  eggs  aiul  planted  iu  the  sprng  of  1897  was  5,500,000.  Tbe  out- 
put of  fry  in  tbe  spring  of  ISSC  «as  6,000,000,  and  7,500,000  eggs  were 
collected  in  rlio  fall  of  that  year. 

In  his  account  of  this  subject  for  1898,  tbe  fish  commissioner  of 
Washington  states  that  Baker  Lake  is  about  If  miles  long  by  1^  miles 
wide,  and  has  two  principal  inlets,  Sutter  River  and  Noisy  Creek.  The 
spawning-places  of  the  sockeye  occur  in  the  lake  and  in  both  of  these 
streams.  The  silver  salmon  and  steelheud  also  run  np  tu  this  locality 
in  large  numbers,  and  the  quinnat  appears  here,  though  to  a  less 
extent. 

Frascr  River. — From  the  bank  in  front  of  the  delta,  where  they  first 
ausemblc,  the  sockeye  pass  into  the  Fraser  ^iver  through  both  entrances, 
the  main  channel  and  the  north  arm,  including  also  Canoe  Pass,  a  ^hort 
offshoot  of  the  former.  The  relative  proportion  which  enters  each  is 
said  by  the  fishermen  to  vary  considerably  in  different  years,  as  well 
as  in  different  parts  of  the  same  season,  but  their  evidence  in  this 
regard  is  quite  indefinite.    They  claim,  however,  that  at  times  as  good 


I  ■ 


270       REPOKr   OP    COMMISSIONER   OF   PISH   AND    PISHEKIE8. 

fishing  may  be  had  in  Oanoe  Pass  as  in  the  main  channel,  through 
which  the  {greater  number  might  naturally  be  expected  to  make  their 
way,  as  probably  they  do. 

The  species  seems  to  distribute  itself  very  generally  throughout  this 
river  system,  attaining  the  headwaters  of  its  principal  branches  and 
entering  a  large  proportion,  if  not  the  greater  number,  of  its  side  tribu- 
taries, bn'h  large  and  small.  During  the  years  when  the  larger  runs 
occur  tht,  .'  '"  their  appearance  in  many  of  these  streams  in  extraor- 
dinary abui.  .  Pitt  River,  not  far  above  New  Westminster,  is  said 
to  contain  thui  .earest  spawning-grounds  to  the  sea,  but  the  quantity 
which  enters  this  stream  is  relatively  small.  Other  iower  tributariee 
which  later  runs  ascend  are  Harrison  Biver  and  Lake,  Morris  Biver, 
and  Silver  Greek. 

Our  knowledge  of  the  season  and  movements  of  the  sockeye  in  the 
Eraser  River  is  based  mainly  upon  the  experience  of  the  fishermen  and 
canners,  supplemented  by  the  evidence  of  oiHcers  of  the  Canadian 
government  connected  with  hatching  operations  and  the  fishery  police. 
Scient'.flc  observations  are  wholly  lacking,  and  it  is  therefore  impossible 
to  speak  with  confidence  in  regard  to  more  than  the  main  features  of 
the  subject.  There  is  considerable  variation  in  the  date  of  beginning 
and  ending  of  the  season,  the  fish  appearing  and  completing  their 
movement  earlier  in  some  years  than  in  others,  although  there  may  be 
more  or  less  agreement  in  this  respect  during  two  or  more  succeeding 
years,  followed  by  a  marked  change.  It  has  been  reported  that  a  few 
sockeye  sometimes  work  up  the  river  in  the  latter  part  of  May,  but  the 
testimony  to  this  effect  is  of  doubtful  value.  The  fact  is  well  estab- 
lished, however,  that  the  species  occasionally  appears  in  small  numbers 
during  the  last  few  days  of  June.  Moderate  runs  may  occur  as  early 
as  July  4,  but  they  are  not  generally  expected  in  sufBcieut  quantities 
to  start  fishing  operations  before  the  10th  of  July,  and  even  up  to  that 
date  they  may  still  be  practically  absent.  By  July  20  they  should  be 
running  as  heavily  as  they  will  at  any  time.  A  large  run  may  occa- 
sionally take  place  at  the  very  end  of  August,  but  the  average  fishing 
season  ends  somewhere  about  the  20th  to  the  25th  of  August,  and  years 
are  recalled  when  nothing  could  be  done  after  vhe  first  week  of  that 
month.  Small  numbers  usually  continue  present  during  more  or  less  of 
the  early  part  of  September,  but  with  the  near  approach  of  the  spawning 
period  the  fish  rapidly  deteriorate  in  appearance  and  condition  and 
lose  their  commercial  value. 

The  fishermen  are  inclined  to  recognize  two  distinct  runs  after  the 
movement  has  fully  begun,  these  being  separated  by  a  few  days  of  i>oor 
fishing.  This  view,  however,^is  not  in  accordance  with  the  facts.  There 
is,  from  the  beginning  of  the  season,  a  more  or  less  constant  fluctuation 
in  the  abundai>ce  of  the  fish.  Larger  bodies  come  from  time  to  time, 
the  quantity  diminishing  more  or  less  in  the  intervals  between,  while 
frequently  the  fish  become  very  scarce  or  may  be  entirely  absent. 
There  is  no  regularity  in  the  matter  and  nothing  on  which  the  tisher- 


lilMil. 


1 


lile 
jnt. 
ler- 


FISHERIES   OP   WASHINGTON   AND   BRITISH    COLUMBIA.       271 

men  can  depend.  There  nre  good  years  and  off  years,  as  they  are 
called,  following  one  another  in  a  certain  order,  as  elsewhere  described, 
but  even  in  an  off  year  very  saccessful  catches  may  unexpectedly  be 
made.  The  year  1895  belonged  in  the  latter  category,  and  during  short 
periods  some  single  boats  took  as  many  as  450  sockeye  daily  with  their 
one  drift  net,  while  catches  of  200  to  300  flsh  a  day  were  made  by  many 
boats.  During  most  of  the  season,  however,  the  catches  averaged  no 
more  than  25  sockeye  daily  to  a  boat,  being  often  smaller,  and  frequently 
none  was  secured. 

When  the  number  of  boats  engaged  in  this  fishery  is  taken  into  con- 
sideration, one  comes  to  realize  how  great  is  the  quantity  of  sockeye 
entering  this  river  system,  and  how  relatively  compact  at  times  must 
be  the  distinctive  bodies  moving  upstream.  With  the  appearance  of 
the  latter  the  catch  suddenly  increases,  often  to  such  an  extent  as  to 
give  the  canneries  much  more  than  they  can  handle,  and  the  excess  is 
occasionally  so  great  as  to  cause  an  enormous  loss  of  flsh.  ISo  other 
species  of  salmon  is  so  abundant  in  the  Fraser  as  the  sockeye. 

Observations  which  seem  reliable  indicate  that,  in  a  general  way  at 
least,  the  earlier  runs  proceed  farthest  up  the  river.  The  flsh  composing 
them  are  less  mature  when  entering  from  the  sea  than  those  of  the  later 
runs  and  are  better  prepared  to  make  the  longer  journey.  Sockeye 
have  been  seen  in  abundance  in  the  streams  which  empty  into  the 
South  Thompson  and  in  the  Shnswap  Lakes  about  the  middle  of  July, 
yet  on  returning  to  the  Harrison  and  other  lo  ««^er  tributaries  their  total 
absence  there  was  determined.  It  is  on  the  later  flsh,  eagerly  seeking 
the  nearest  spawning-grounds,  and  with  their  reproductive  organs  well 
developed  as  they  move  upstream,  that  the  Canadian  hatchery  relies 
for  its  fiupply  of  eggs.  These  are  the  runs  which  have  been  most  closely 
observed  and  are  best  known. 

The  scckeye  retains  its  freshness  in  the  river  longer  than  any  other 
species  of  salmon  except  the  quinnat  and  the  steel iiead.  This  must  be 
chiefly  due  to  the  fact  that  its  movement  begins  quite  far  in  advance 
of  the  spawning  season,  and  during  nearly  the  entire  period  of  its  run 
through  the  lower  part  of  the  river  the  catch  is  always  of  a  superior  char- 
acter, the  flesh  being  flrm  and  of  good  color,  while  the  external  surface  is 
clean  and  inviting  in  appearance.  Beginning  the  latter  part  of  August, 
however,  the  flsh  rapidly  deteriorate  iti  condition,  and  the  close  season, 
which  begins  on  August  25,  is  as  much  in  the  interest  of  the  consumer 
as  for  the  protection  of  the  species.  In  1894,  by  request,  the  Canadian 
government  extended  the  open  season  a  week  longer  on  the  plea  that 
the  sockeye  were  late  in  beginning  to  run,  owing  to  the  heavy  flood 
which  occurred  in  the  early  part  of  the  summer.  Such  was  probably 
not  the  fact,  although  the  high  water  interfered  with  fishing  operations, 
and  the  sxtawning  season  began  no  later  than  in  average  years.  The 
extension  was  therefore  deprecated  by  those  having  the  best  interests 
of  the  fishery  at  heart,  and  it  is  not  likely  to  be  repeated. 


I-:   ! 


RMil 


272       EEPORT   OF   COMMISSIONER   OP   FISH   AND   FISHERIES. 

Whatever  may  be  their  stay  in  the  brackish  water  outside  the  delta, 
when  ouce  inside  the  river  their  progress  upstream  appears  to  be  quite 
rapid  and  continuous,  if  one  may  judge  from  the  experience  of  the  gill- 
netters,  especially  in  conaection  with  the  weekly  close  time,  which  per- 
mits the  rate  of  movement  to  be  roughly  measured.  These  observations 
relate  to  the  main  part  of  the  river,  and  more  particularly  to  that 
portion  where  commercial  fishing  is  carried  on,  but  the  movement 
doubtless  continues  at  much  the  same  rate  until  the  fish  are  in  the 
neighborhood  of  their  spawning-grounds. 

The  depth  at  which  they  swim  while  ascending  the  lower  part  of  the 
river,  where  its  volume  is  greatest  and  where  the  water  is  sometimes 
deep,  is  said  to  vary  with  the  conditions.  When  the  water  is  very 
muddy  the  fish  are  expected  to  keep  nearer  the  surface  than  when  it  is 
more  or  less  clear,  and  as  the  former  condition  prevails  during  practi- 
cally the  entire  sockeye  season,  the  depth  of  about  50  meshes  adopted 
for  the  drift  nets  has  been  found  to  be  as  great  as  can  both  profitably 
and  conveniently  be  used.  In  deep  parts  of  the  river  more  fish  are 
taken  at  the  sides  than  in  midstream,  and  the  same  is  true  during  times 
of  flood.  In  shallow  sections  and  during  low  water  they  spread  out 
more  widely,  ^  ecoming  more  generally  distributed  or  finding  their  way 
wheie  the  contour  of  the  bottom  afibrds  the  depths  i)referred. 


PROPAGATION. 


The  sockeye  and  quinnat  are  understood  to  have  substantially  the 
same  spawning  season,  which,  in  the  Fraser  Eiver,  is  mainly  from  the 
middle  of  September  to  the  middle  or  latter  part  oT  October,  although 
beginning,  in  some  seasons  at  least,  a  little  earlier  and  continuing  to  a 
somewhat  later  date.  It  is  supposed  that  the  season  in  about  uniform 
in  all  parts  of  the  system,  although  nothing  positive  is  known  about 
the  dates  in  the  upper  waters. 

'According  to  the  late  Thomas  Mowat,  for  some  time  fishery  inspector 
for  British  Columbia,  the  sockeye,  as  a  rule,  spawn  in  the  small  creeks 
that  flow  into  the  lakes  and  larger  rivers,  very  few  depositing  their  eggs 
in  heavy,  rapid  streams,  as  the  quinnat  do.  This  is  essentially  in  keep- 
ing with  observations  made  elsewhere.  At  Karluk,  Alaska,  Dr.  Bean 
found  this  species  spawning  in  the  main  lake  and  in  the  short  and  rapid 
streams  connecting  each  of  its  arms  with  smaller  lakes.  The  spawning- 
grounds  at  the  headwaters  of  the  Columbia  River,  in  Idaho,  which  have 
been  carefully  studied  by  Professor  Evermann,  occur  only  in  streams 
tributary  to  the  lakes  or  in  the  lakes  themselves. 

In  1884  the  Canadian  Government  began  the  propagation  of  salmon 
on  the  Fraser  River,  at  the  solicitation  of  local  canners  and  fishermen, 
who  suggested  a  system  of  license  fees  and  of  taxes  on  the  prepared 
products  as  a  means  of  obtaining  revenue  for  the  purpose.  The  hatch- 
ery was  established  in  the  neiglibcrhocd  of  New  Westminster,  being 
completed  in  time  to  lay  in  a  Svock  of  that  season's  eggs,  and  was 
votaiut'd  at  the  original  site  until  about  185)4,  when  i.  vas  removed  to  a 


1 


FISHERIES   OP    AVA8HINGTON   AND   BRITISH   COLUMBIA.       273 


place  nearer  the  collecting-gronnds.  Attention  was  paid  in  the  begin- 
ning to  both  the  sockeye  and  quinnat.  With  regard  to  the  former 
species,  ijb  was  hoped  to  more  nearly  eoaalize  the  anunal  runs,  the  great 
diversity  of  which  if  described  further  on.  As  to  the  latter,  it  was 
desired  not  o\aI^  to  increase  the  supply,  but  also  to  introduce  the  more 
desirable  grade  from  the  Columbia  Biver.  The  propagation  of  the 
(quinnat  was  continued  during  only  five  years,  however,  and  was 
restricted  to  native  stock,  the  output  of  fry  never  exceeding  about 
2,000,000  in  any  one  season. 

The  hatching  of  sockeye,  started  at  the  same  time,  has  been  con- 
tinued down  to  date.  The  eggs  have  been  mainly  secured  in  Morris 
Greek,  a  tributary  of  Harrison  Biver,  the  parent  fish  being  caught  and 
held  in  captivity  until  the  spawn  ripened.  While  the  quantity  of  eggs 
to  a  female  has  been  calculated  at  about  5,000  on  an  average,  the  num- 
ber actually  obtained  from  each  has  averaged  only  about  3,000  to  S,500, 
owing  to  the  fact  that,  being  mostly  taken  during  the  progress  of  the 
spawning  season,  many  of  them  are  more  or  less  spent  when  they  reach 
the  pens  in  which  they  are  connued. 

The  collecting  season  has  varied  in  ditferent  years,  beginning  in 
some  as  early  as  the  middle  of  September  and  in  others  not  until  about 
October  8,  and  ending  all  the  way  from  October  15  to  the  first  part  of 
November.  The  period  of  incubation  is  relatively  short,  the  fry  being 
produced  and  planted  during  March  and  April  following.  With  few 
exceptions  the  plantings  have  all  been  made  in  lower  tributaries  of 
the  Fraser  Biver,  such  as  the  Harrison,  Stave,  Little  Lillooet,  Pitt,  and 
Coquitlan  rivers.  Between  1885  and  1890  relatively  small  numbers  of 
fry  and  of  semi-hatched  eggs  were  placed  in  the  Gowichan  and  Nanaimo 
rivers,  of  Vancouver  Island,  neither  of  which  are  natural  sockeye 
streams,  but  so  far  as  can  be  ascertained  this  effort  at  transplanting 
has  met  with  no  success. 

The  total  number  of  sockeye  eggs  collected  and  the  number  of  fry 
deposited  in  the  Fraser  Biver  during  each  year  since  the  establish- 
ment of  the  hatchery  are  shown  in  the  following  table,  in  connection 
with  which  it  will  be  understood  that  the  fry  planted  in  any  oue  year 
were  derived  from  the  eggs  of  the  previous  year: 


1^ 


I  i 


S;  i 


Table  showing  the  total  number  of  et/ga  of  the  sookeye  salmon  collected  and  the  number  of 
fry  deposited  in  the  Fraser  River  from  1884  to  1897, 


Year. 


Number  of 

esgH  col- 
:     lected. 


260,000 
1,487,000 
4,780,000 
9,  32G,  000 
4,000,000? 

1889 :  9.233,000 

1890 3,881,000 

1891 6,485,000 


1884. 
1885. 
1886. 
1887. 
1888. 


Number  of 
fry  (lepoaited 

iu  the 
Fraser  Klver. 


} 

I 
2,406,000 
3,870,000 
4, 046, 500 
6,640,000 
3,603,000 


K(;99- 


Year. 

Number  of 
eggs  col- 
lected. 

1892 

6, 237, 000 
6,880,000 
6, 752, 000 
6, 830, 000 
8,  770, 000 
6,472  000 

1898 

1894 

1896 

1896 

1897 

1898 

1899 .. 

Number  of 
fry  deposited 

in  tbe 
Fraser  Kiver. 


6,600,000 
6, 764, 000 
6,300,000 
6, 390, 000 
6, 393, 000 
6, 928, 000 
5,850,000 
5,600,000 


-18 


!IS1 


274       REPORT   OF   COMMISSIONER   OF   FISH   AND   FISHERIES. 

Of  the  young  of  the  sookeye  little  conld  be  learned,  aud  nothing  of 
special  interest.  After  hatching  tUey  are  said  to  remain  in  the  several 
tributaries  until  about  June  of  tbe  following  year.  A  few  grilse  are 
reported  to  be  taken  occasionally  in  the  river  as  well  as  in  the  salt 
water,  but  some  question  must  attach  to  the  identification  of  the  speci- 
mens thus  captured  until  they  have  been  critically  examined. 

The  initial  steps  toward  the  propagation  of  the  sockeye  on  the  Skagit 
Biver  have  been  described  iu  connection  with  that  river,  while  the 
question  as  to  what  benefits  may  have  been  derived  from  the  hatching 
on  the  Frazer  Biver  is  discussed  under  the  heading  of  periodicity, 
which  follows. 

PBRIODIOTTT  IK  ABmTDASCK. 

A  periodicity  in  the  abundance  of  the  sockeye  in  alternating  cycles 
of  four  years'  duration  Las  been  recognized  in  this  region  ever  since 
the  first  settlements  were  made  upon  the  headwaters  of  the  Fraser 
Biver  by  tbe  Northwest  Company  in  1806.  The  species  has  been 
shown  to  attain  its  maximum  abundance  in  every  fourth  year.  The 
next  season's  run,  while  inferior,  is  expected  also  to  be  a  good  one,  but 
those  of  the  two  following  years  should  be  relatively  small.  There  is  no 
question  but  tLat  this  fluctuation  has  occurred  and  tbat  the  sequence 
has  been  in  accordance  with  tbe  explanation  given,  but  no  standard 
can  be  fixed  for  measuring  the  extent  of  the  variation.  Tbe  differences, 
however,  have  been  sufiQciently  great  and  regular  not  only  to  attract 
attention,  but  also  markedly  to  affect  the  fishery  and  the  canning 
industry.  Tbe  canners  have  been  enabled  to  anticipate  in  large  meas- 
ure the  conditions  of  each  approaching  season,  and  to  plan  accordingly, 
thus  regulating  tbe  extent  of  their  preparations. 

The  statistics  of  the  fishery  alone  do  not  fuminih  a  suitable  basis  for 
determining  either  tbe  occurrence  or  tbe  regularity  of  this  periodic 
variation,  owing  to  tbe  fact  that  the  extent  of  the  catch  has  often  been 
influenced  by  the  state  of  th^  market  or  the  depression  of  trade.  Thus, 
in  the  good  years  packers  may  have  been  led  to  greatly  reduce  their 
output,  causing  a  shortage  in  tbe  catch,  while  in  poor  years  an  active 
demand  may  have  induced  tbe  fishermen  to  largely  increase  their 
operations.  From  information  given  in  the  cMcial  Canadian  repoits  it 
has  been  possible  to  supplement  tbe  statistics  by  evidence  as  to  whether 
tbe  fish  were  actually  abundant  or  scarce  in  any  year,  irrespective  of 
the  amounts  captured  in  tbe  nets,  and  while  fine  distinctions  can  not 
be  drav  n  from  this  source  tbe  data  seem  to  be  sufficient  to  test  approx- 
imately tbe  correctness  of  tbe  alleged  periodic  changes. 

These  facts  have  been  brought  out  iu  the  following  table,  in  which 
the  anticipated  and  actual  conditions  are  shown  for  each  year  from 
1877  to  1898.  For  reasons  already  explained  it  h  ;;  been  impossible  to 
use  other  than  very  general  terms  to  express  the  .*.!  conditions,  but  they 
will  undoubtedly  serve  the  purpose  here  desired.  Tbe  recurring  cycles 
are  Indicated  by  tbe  numbers  in  tbe  second  column,  number  one  in  each 
cycle  stand' !jg  for  the  year  of  maximum  abundance. 


FISHERIES  OF  WASHINGTON  AND  BBITIBH  COLUMBIA.      275 

Table  thowing  the  antieipated  and  actual  oondiliotu  regarding  the  relative  abundance  of 
aookeye  salmon  for  each  pear  from  1877  to  1898,  in  illuitration  of  the  subject  of  periodic 
fluetuation. 


Year. 

Cycles. 

Anticipated 
conditions. 

Good 

...do 

Poor 

....do 

Good 

...  do 

Poor  

— do 

Good 

....do 

Poor 

Actual 
conditions. 

Good. 

Do. 
Poor. 

Do. 
Good. 

Do. 
Poor. 

Do. 
Good. 
Fell  short. 
Good. 

Tear. 

Cycles. 

Anticipated 
conditions. 

Actual 
conditions. 

1877 

I 
3 
4 

1 
2 
3 
4 
1 
2 
3 

1888. 

4 
1 

2 
3 

4 
1 
2 
3 
4 
1 
2 

Poor 

Good 

....do 

Poor 

...do 

Good 

...do 

Poor 

do 

Good 

....do 

Very  poor. 
Do' 

1878 

1889 

1879 

18«0 

1880 

1891  .. 

Fair 

1881 

1892 

Poor 

1882 

1893 

Oood. 
Do 

1883 

1894 

1884 

1895      ...     . 

Do 

1885 

1896 

Do 

1886 

1807 

Do 

1887 

1898 

Poor 

From  an  inspection  of  the  table  a  correspondence  will  be  noticed  in 
the  anticipated  and  actnal  flnctnations  tor  every  year  down  to  1885, 
inclusive.  In  1886  the  quantity  fell  mnch  short  of  expectations, 
although  the  catch  was  kept  up  by  an  increase  in  the  number  of  nets 
employed,  and  in  1887,  which  should  have  been  a  poor  year,  the  run  was 
better  than  in  1886.  In  1895,  also  theoretically  a  poor  year,  the  run  was 
above  the  average,  while  in  1896,  exi)ected  to  be  the  poorest  of  its  cycle, 
the  catch  is  recorded  as  the  third  largest  in  the  Eraser  Biver  fishery 
down  to  that  time.  As  a  whole,  there  were  few  measurable  differences 
from  the  anticipated  conditions  down  to  1892,  since  which  time  good 
runs  have  occurred  during  practically  five  continuous  years.  In  1898, 
however,  which  should  have  been  a  go  jd  year,  the  catch  was  relatively 
small. 

The  run  of  1897  was  one  of  the  largest  if  not  the  largest  in  the  history 
of  the  region.  Preparations  had  been  made  in  anticipation  of  a  good 
year,  both  on  the  Fraser  Biver  and  in  Washington.  The  great  body 
of  sockeye  first  made  its  appearance  about  the  middle  of  July  and 
continued  until  about  the  end  of  the  first  week  in  August,  a  relatively 
short  season,  but  during  this  period  the  cannery  pack  was  completed 
and  in  addition  an  immense  amount  of  fish  wad  thrown  away,  the  daily 
catch  being  often  much  larger  than  could  be  disposed  of.  It  has,  in 
fact,  been  claimed,  though  this  is  probably  an  exaggeration,  that  more 
fish  were  caught  and  wasted  than  were  utilized.  Where  contracts  had 
not  previously  been  made,  the  canneries  soon  found  it  necessary  to 
refuse  much  of  the  fish  offered  them,  thus  depriving  many  fishermen  of 
their  occupation  through  the  very  abundance  of  the  objects  of  their 
pursuit.  At  Boundary  Bay  it  is  said  that  the  traps  filled  faster  than 
they  could  be  emptied,  while  some  of  the  gil'-netters  caught  fully  1,200 
salmon  to  a  net  in  a  single  night,  and  many  from  500  to  1,000  each. 
On  the  Fraser  Biver  the  individual  catches  were  in  proportion. 

While  in  1897  the  bulk  of  the  catch  was  made  early,  the  height  of 
the  season  varies  in  different  years.  In  1890  and  1896,  both  of  which 
were  good  years,  the  boats  all  made  very  small  catches  on  the  Fraser 
Biver  until  about  August  10,  when  the  fish  began  to  run  abundantly, 
raising  the  average  daily  catch  per  boat  to  from  200  to  600.    In  those 


I: 


■HH 


276       REPORT  OF  COMMISSIONER  OF  FISH  AND   FISHERIES. 


years  also,  as  well  as  in  some  preceding  ones,  the  canneries  became 
overstocked  and  many  sockeye  were  destroyed.  The  catch  of  1880  was 
likewise  an  unusual  one,  some  of  the  contract  fishermen  earning  as  high 
as  $1,500  during  the  season. 

Several  theories  have  been  advanced  to  account  for  the  periodicity 
in  the  abundance  of  the  sockeye,  which  all  seem  willing  to  admit  has 
continued,  with  at  least  some  measure  of  regularity,  down  to  within 
about  a  decade,  but  none  of  them  is  yet  supported  by  conclusive  evi- 
dence. An  explanation  is  rendered  easier  if  it  be  assumed  that  the 
sockeye  makes  but  one  spawning  run,  which  seems  in  the  main  to  be  an 
established  fact,  and  that  its  age  at  \<hat  time  is  four  years,  a  point, 
however,  which  has  not  yet  been  determined  from  other  evidence.  On 
this  basis,  the  size  of  any  run  having  been  established,  the  run  of  four 
years  later,  composed  of  its  own  progeny,  might  be  expected  to  be  of 
corresponding  size;  a  large  run  to  give  origin  to  a  large  one,  and  a 
small  run  to  a  small  one.  The  size  of  the  initial  runs,  at  whatever 
dates  they  are  started,  and  the  subsequent  fluctuations  in  their  size  may 
readily  be  accounted  for  by  the  many  vicissitudes  which  belong  to  fish 
life  from  the  egg  and  embryo  stages  to  adult  age.  Years  of  favoring 
conditions  alternate  in  irregular  sequence  with  those  in  which  the  con- 
ditions are  adverse,  and  both  at  sea  and  about  the  spawning-grounds 
contingencies  arise  which  may  seriously  affect  or  change  the  volume  of 
any  season's  run. 

Some  of  the  greatest  dangers  of  destruction  undoubtedly  exist  in 
the  spawning  areas,  where  the  eggs  and  the  embryos  are  subject  to 
mu'  h  damage  through  the  cold  of  winter,  the  force  of  freshets,  and  the 
was.  ;  of  silt  and  gravel  in  upon  the  beds,  and  from  one  or  other 
of  th  RP  '•auses  a  large  mortality  must  occur.  Other  agencies  to  be 
considered  are  the  fisheries,  both  commercial  and  by  the  Indians,  which 
remove  a  large  amount  of  fish,  but  it  seems  improbable  that  either  of 
these  could  be  made  to  account  for  the  periodic  fluctuations.  This  is 
especially  so  as  regards  the  white  man's  fishing,  whicu  did  not  become 
extensive  until  many  years  after  the  variations  had  been  recognized, 
and  in  spite  of  which  the  sockeye  seem  to  be  no  less  abundant  now 
than  in  early  times.  While  the  Indian  methods  and  the  extent  of  their 
captures  are  more  likely  to  have  had  a  bearing  on  the  case,  it  seems 
more  natural  that  their  fishing  should  have  affected  all  runs  alike. 

As  before  notod,  one  of  the  principal  objects  in  establishing  a  hatchery 
on  the  Frasev  Eiver  was  to  attempt  to  equalize  the  runs  of  sockeye,  to 
make  this  species  more  abundant  in  off  years,  and  thus,  if  possible, 
to  provide  good  fishing  every  season.  From  the  testimony  of  the  local 
officers  and  fishermen,  and  even  from  the  statistics  of  the  last  few  years, 
it  would  appear  as  though  something  may  have  been  accomplished  in 
this  direction. 

In  1889  Fishery  Inspector  Mowat  reported  that  the  parent  sockeye 
had  become  more  plentiful  in  the  small  creeks  where  the  fry  had  been 
deposited,  and  thought  the  increase  in  Morris  Creek  had  been  tenfold, 


FISHERIES   OP   WASHINGTON  AND   BRITIRH   CCfUJMBIA.      277 


UB  in  1885  and  1886  they  coald  scarcely  secure  any  fish  there,  while  in 
1889  they  caught  them  numerously.  This  explaiiatiou  of  the  increase 
is  scarcely  tenable,  as  the  number  of  f)ry  set  free  in  188G  was  not  above 
IjOOOjOOO^less,  had  they  all  survived,  than  one-third  the  total  Fraser 
Biver  catch  of  1887.  Mr.  Mowat,  moreover,  attributed  the  good  catch  of 
1887,  which  ranked  as  an  off  year,  to  the  same  cauRe,  but  this  would  have 
allowed  for  only  three  years'  growth  from  the  time  the  first  eggs  were 
taken  (not  hatched),  and  the  total  number  of  those  eggs  was  only  250,000. 
It  is  to  ,the  last  few  years  that  we  must  look  for  tlie  most  positive 
evidences  of  the  success  or  failure  of  hatching  operations,  following 
the  steady  planting  for  a  decade  and  over,  and  while  the  quantity  of 
i^y  deposited  in  the  Fraser  has  not  much  exceeded  6,000,000  annually 
at  the  most,  being  generally  less,  with  a  high  percentage  of  survival 
it  is  T)ossibie  that  an  impression  has  been  made.  Not  only  were  the 
conditions  improved  in  the  poor  years  of  1895  and  1896  by  some  cause, 
if  not  by  this  one,  but  the  effects  were  also  felt  in  the  j^ears  of  greater 
anticipation  which  immediately  preceded  and  followed  them,  though 
the  greatly  reduced  catch  of  1898,  which  should  have  been  a  good  year, 
is  to  be  noted  in  this  connection.  The  present  inspector  of  fisheries 
accredits  these  results  to  the  combined  influence  of  the  hatchery  and 
of  better  protection  in  the  upper  waters,  where  the  Indian  methods  of 
barring  the  passage  of  spawning  fish  have  been  suppressed  wherever 
possible.  He  also  claims  the  recent  establishment  in  Morris  Greek, 
where  the  hatchery  supplies  have  been  obtained  and  where  much  of  the 
fry  has  been  deposited,  of  a  type  of  soct  eye  which  spawns  later  than  any 
of  the  runs  observed  during  the  earlier  operations  in  that  locality,  and 
these  he  supposes  to  be  the  product  of  artificial  propagation.  Thefie 
late  spawners  are  in  great  abundance  every  year,  even  when  there  is  a 
scarcity  at  other  breeding-grounds.  The  observation!"  of  Mr.  McNab 
in  regard  to  this  matter  are  of  much  interest,  and  if  la)  facts  are  sub- 
stantially as  he  states  them  it  raises  again  the  old  question  as  to 
whether  salmon  alw.ays  return  to  precisely  the  same  ground  where  they 
were  hatched  and  make  their  run  at  the  same  relative  time  of  the 
season  as  the  parent  stock  from  which  they  were  derived.  There  are 
no  data  at  hand  for  reaching  a  conclusion  in  this  matt^ir,  with  respect 
especially  to  such  a  complicated  system  as  is  presented  by  the  Fraser 
Biver,  but  should  the  proposition  so  often  raised  be  the  true  one,  then 
the  hatching  work  on  this  river  would  be  productive  only  of  late- 
running  fish,  those  from  which  the  eggs  have  been  taken.  These  late 
runs  probably  occur,  in  part  at  least,  after  the  close  season  has  begun* 
and  are  of  little  or  no  benefit  to  the  fishermen,  but  until  the  subject  is 
better  understood  we  are  perfectly  justified  in  giving  the  experiment 
the  benefit  of  the  doubt,  and  in  regarding  with  favor  the  work 
accomplished. 

MORTAUTY  AFTER  SPAWNING. 

During  our  inquiries  of  1895  no  new  positive  information  was 
obtained  regarding  the  extent  to  which  the  sookeye  return  to  the 
ocean  after  accomplishing  the  object  of  their  journey  into  the  fresh 


i 

h 

I 

i 


278       REPORT  V)F  COMMISSIONER  OF   FISH   AMD   FISHERIES. 


waters.  Tlie  testimony  secured  on  this  subject  did,  however,  empha- 
size the  fact  that  the  mortality  after  spawning  is  very  great,  and  is 
shared  by  all  the  species  of  Oncorhynchus.  The  waters  aboat  and 
directly  below  the  numerons  spawniuggrounds  become  charged  with 
great  numbers  of  dead  salmon,  whose  decaying  bodies  fill  the  air  with 
the  odors  of  putrefaction,  but,  while  the  stench  becomes  almost  unbear- 
ahle,  no  widespread  pollution  of  the  Fraser  or  Skagit  rivers  seems  to 
result  from  this  cause.  Detailed  observations  to  determine  the  pro- 
portion of  deaths  are  wholly  lacking.  Those  who  have  observed  the 
conditions  are  not  in  accord  in  their  deductions,  th;>ugh  all  agree  in 
placing  the  death  rate  very  high,  especially  as  regards  the  humpback, 
dog,  and  silver  salmon,  as  well  as  the  sookeye.  Some  feel  confident 
that  of  these  species  none  survive,  while  others  are  equally  certain  that 
only  a  part  meet  death. 

The  only  serious  attempt  at  a  solution  of  this  problem  i  tish 
Columbia  was  made  by  the  late  Thomas  Mowat,  whose  exp^.  ..iits, 
however,  were  cut  short  by  his  unfortunately  early  death.  The  most 
complete  account  of  his  observations  and  deductions  that  we  have  seen 
are  contained  in  an  unpublished  letter  written  in  1890,  from  which  the 
following  is  an  extract: 

I  have  maoh  pleaanru  in  informing  yoa  that  I  have  proof  without  donbt  that  the 
OnwrhynchuB  or  Facifio  saloion  do  ia  many  oases  retarn  to  fresh  water  annnally 
for  the  pnrpose  of  reprodncing  their  species.  I  have  proof  of  this  iu  the  case  of  the 
qninnat  (0.  Uohaw^t»oha)  and  sookeye  (O.  nerka),  and  I  am  confident  from  observa- 
tions I  have  made  that  the  oobo  (0.  kitmtoh)  do  return  in  larger  numbers  than  those 
first  mentioned. 

During  the  seasons  of  1884, 1885,  and  1886, 1  made  use  of  a  leather  or  harness- 
maker's  punch  to  mark  the  qninnat  salmon  after  they  had  lieen  partially  stripped  of 
their  eggs  and  were  obliged  to  be  returned  to  the  pens.  The  marking  was  done  by 
punching  one  or  more  holes  through  the  adipose  dorsal  fin,  then  passing  a  piece  of 
colored  cotton  oloth  or  twine  through  the  hole,  so  as  to  distingnish  them  firom  the 
fish  that  had  not  been  handled.  Sometimes  we  cut  a  portion  or  the  whole  of  this 
fin  ofT,  and  those  fish  were  returned  to  the  water  after  we  had  finished  stripping 
them.  Two  successive  years  later  a  few  of  the  fish  so  marked  passed  through  our 
hands  and  were  recognized,  and  I  learned  that  some  had  been  taken  by  the  netters. 
It  must  be  understood  that  the  strings  were  not  left  on  the  fish.  The  fin  was  found 
to  be  withered  somewhat,  with  the  hole  partially  grown  up.  Since  the  season  of 
1887  we  have  been  operating  on  the  suckeye,  and,  as  I  have  already  described,  some 
of  these  were  marked  in  a  similar  way,  but  owing  to  having  so  many  in  the  pens  we 
had  to  keep  different  marks  on  them,  so  that  the  tails  of  some  were  bent  or  doubled 
up,  a  piece  being  taken  out.  Two  of  the  fish  marked  in  this  manner  were  taken  by 
nettera  this  senson  and  Bent  to  me. 

My  contention  has  always  been  that  at  least  four  species  of  our  salmon  return  to 
the  rivers  to  reproduce.  The  fourth,  including  those  alluded  to,  is  the  steelhead,  of 
which  none  die  except  by  accident.  My  opinion  is  that  75  per  cent  of  the  quinnat 
salmon  snrvive  that  ascend  from  75  to  100  miles  inland ;  those  that  ascend  ftom  100 
to  1,000  miles,  or  reach  the  summit  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  are  reduced  ttom 
various  causes  down  to  from  5  to  25  per  cent.  The  perisentage  of  the  sookeye  that  sur- 
vive are  slightly  under  the  quinnftt,  while  those  of  the  cohoes  are  over,  as  they  do 
not  ascend  so  far  inland  and  have  a  better  chance  of  returning.  The  qualla  and 
humpbacks  die  in  larger  numl)ers,  oa  they  are  more  pugnacious,  spawn  in  shallow 
water,  and  are  more  liable  to  disease.    I  qoite  agree  with  yoa  as  to  the  views 


PIHHER1E8    OP   WASHINGTON    AND    BRITISH    COLUMBIA.      279 


held  in  referenre  to  tbe  Bsltnon  returning.  They  no  donbt  descend  very  rapidly, 
and  either  in  tbe  deep  water  of  tbe  rente,  ci  tbe  streams  or  along  tbe  abores,  where 
tliey  are  less  apt  to  oonie  in  contact  vrith  nets.  I  have  on  soveral  occasions  noticed 
tbe  spent  sockeye  salmon  swimming  down  this  river  toward  tbe  gulf,  and  I  ha^  e 
been  informed  by  tbe  netters  that  they  have  token  them;  but  of  course  there  is  uot 
tbe  same  chance  of  capturing  them  on  their  return  to  tbe  ocean. 

Observations  made  elsewhere  in  Pacific  coast  rivers  do  not  confirm 
Mr.  Mowat's  conclusions  regarding;  the  sockeye.  Dr.  T.  H.  Bean,  who 
made  a  study  of  the  Karluk  Hi  ver,  at  Kadiak,  Alaska,  in  1880,  expresses 
the  opinion  that  no  spawning  sockeye  leave  that  river  alive,  although 
they  may  live  in  the  lakes  at  its  source  during  more  or  less  of  the  winter. 

Prof.  B.  W.  Evermann,  who  has  given  much  attention  to  the  salmon 
question  iu  the  headwaters  of  the  ('olumbia  Biver  in  Idaho,  and  whose 
statements  are  based  on  most  painst  iking  observations,  says  of  the 
sockeye  in  that  region : 

What  becomes  of  the  redfish  after  spawning  f  Our  observations,  made  at  Altnras 
and  Payette  lukes  in  1S94  and  1895,  and  particularly  those  at  Alturas  Lake  in  1895, 
which  have  already  been  given  with  consideialile  detail,  leave  no  donbt  as  to  tbe 
answer  to  this  question.  The  redflsh  which  spawn  in  the  inlets  to  the  Idaho  lakes 
never  return  to  the  sea,  but  all  die  at  tbe  close  of  the  spawuiog  season.  The  evidence 
is  conclusive. 

Had  Mr.  Mowat  been  spared  to  continue  his  inquiries  during  a 
longer  period,  it  is  to  be  exi)ecte'l  that  he  would  have  succeeded  in 
throwing  much  light  upon  this  still  perplexing  question.  In  the  face 
of  the  other  evidence  just  cited,  it  can  scarcely  be  admitted  that  his 
deductions  are  conclusive  as  regards  the  sockeye.  WLile  Professor 
Evermanu's  observations  relate  to  waters  at  a  long  distance  fh)m  the 
sea,  the  Karluk  spawning-grounds  are  much  nearer  to  the  ocean  than 
any  in  the  lower  tributaries  of  the  Eraser  River. 

An  argument  may  be  bused  upon  the  uniformity  in  size  of  the  fish, 
but  not  safely  without  supi)ort  from  other  evidence.  Thus  the  sockeye, 
silver  salmon,  and  humpbacks  each  run  quite  uniform  in  weight,  the 
majority  of  those  which  enter  any  river  averaging  about  the  same. 
Did  they  make  repeated  ascents,  the  older  fish  might  be  expected  to 
attain  successively  larger  sizes,  but  as  the  sizes  vary  little,  it  is  natural  to 
assume  that,  with  possibly  few  exceptions,  they  make  but  the  one  jour- 
ney— are  adapted  to  spawn  but  once.  Tliat  a  few  escape  might  explain 
the  occasional  captnre  of  larger  sizes,  as  reported  from  time  to  time. 
The  quinnat  and  dog  salmon,  on  the  contrary,  exhibit  a  consider.ible 
variation  in  size,  suggesting  the  survival  of  a  greater  proportion  of  the 
fish  after  each  spawning,  a  greater  power  of  hmgevity,  and  the  oppor- 
tunity of  making  two  or  more  runs.  Notwithstanding  this  argument, 
however,  the  dog  salmon  have  been  counted  among  those  which  die 
most  readily  after  spawning. 

From  a  practical  standpoint  the  question  of  mortality  may  be 
assumed  as  having  some  importance  for  consideration  iu  connection 
with  regulations  for  the  protection  of  the  salmon.  If  all  the  individ- 
uals of  a  species  composing  a  season's  run  die  at  their  spawning- 


^  II 


•  -;( 


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i 


280       REPORT   OF   COMMISSIONER   OP    FISH   AND    FISHERIES. 


grounds,  why  is  it  necessary  to  provide  for  the  escape  past  the  nets  of 
the  fishermen  of  more  than  are  required  'm  insure  the  perpetuation  of 
that  species  by  spawning?  If,  on  the  contrary,  the  mortality  is  small 
and  the  same  fish  ascend  through  t>ro  or  more  seasons,  then  those 
which  escape  capture  one  year  may  bfj  regarded  as  saved  for  the  bene- 
fit of  the  fishermen  iu  succeeding  years. 

In  either  case,  however,  the  distirictious  to  be  drawn  are  very  fine, 
and  it  is  difficult  to  conceive  of  a  regulation  based  upon  such  condi- 
tions in  view  of  the  uncertainty  at'^endinp  all  fisheries,  and  especially 
one  whose  operations  are  so  extensive  and  whose  resources  are  still  so 
untried  as  the  salmon  fishery  of  this  region.  A  sufficient  quantity  of 
salmon  should  be  permitted  co  pass  the  nets  to  insure  with  absolute 
cerlainty  the  maintenance  of  the  supply.  The  proper  nuijiber  for  that 
purpose  can  never  be  accurately  determined,  but  prudence  demands  a 
veiy  large  margin. 

QUINNAT  SAI.MON. 

The  quinnat,  Onecr'iynohus  tsohawytscha  (Walbaum),  known  also  iu 
this  region  as  the  tyee  and  spring  salmon,  is  recognized  here,  as  else- 
where, as  the  finest  in  quality  of  the  Pacific  group  of  salmon,  its  flesh 
excelling  thav.  of  all  tha  other  species  in  richness  and  delicacy  of  flavor, 
it  is  not,  howci^er,  nearly  so  important  commercially  as  the  blueback 
or  sockeye  salmon,  being  much  less  favorably  regarded  for  canning 
purposes,  mainly  on  account  of  the  lighter  color  of  its  meat.  Still,  for 
other  uses,  and  especially  for  the  fresh  trade,  it  is  most  highly  prized, 
and,  excepting  the  peculiar  white-meated  individuals  hereatter  to  be 
described,  there  is  demand  for  all  that  can  be  taken. 

While  with  this  as  with  the  other  species,  it  has  been  necessary  to 
depend  chiefly  upon  the  market  fishermen  and  sportsmen  for  a  knowl- 
edp-c  of  its  movements,  enough  has  been  learned  to  establish  several 
points  of  interest  and  to  indicate  that  this  region  offers  an  exceptional 
opportunity  for  rounding  out  the  life  history  of  this  conspicuous  mem- 
ber of  the  salmon  tribe. 

The  quinnat  differs  markedly  in  its  habits  from  the  sockeye,  and  is 
apparently  always  present  in  the  Gulf  of  Georgia  and  in  Puget  Sound, 
where  it  may  be  captured  at  practically  all  times  of  tlie  year.  This  fact 
would  seem  m  indicate  that  the  inner  salt  waters  of  the  region  furni  h 
conditions  suited  to  its  welfare  during  all  seasons,  although,  of  course, 
its  entry  into  fresh  water  is  essential  for  spawning  purposes,  and  it 
is  to  be  presumed  that  a  certain  proportion  finds  its  way  to  the  ocea-» 
every  year. 

During  the  winter  months  goo<l  hook-and-line  fishing  is  obtained  in 
several  places,  >ind  probably  would  be  found  in  many  others  were  trials 
made,  but  operations  of  this  character  are  as  yet  restricted  both  as  to 
locality  and  number  of  men  employed,  the  Indians  being  the  principal 
participants.  The  quinnat  do  not  apparently  then  congregate  together 
in  as  large  or  compact  bodies  as  during  the  period  when  their  inove- 
ments  toward  the  rivers  arc  taking  place.    They  are  more  scattered 


FISHERIES   OF    WASHINGTON   AND    BRITISH    COI.UMBIA.       281 

and  seemingly  remain  more  constantly,  if  not  always,  below  the  sarf9<;e, 
and  to  some  extent  at  least  in  comparatively  de^p  water.  It  is  accord- 
ingly impossible  to  judge  of  the  gen'^ral  abundance  of  the  specie^i  in 
the  inner  salt  waters  at  that  season,  or  of  the  proportion  which  may 
seek  winter  ouarters  in  the  open  sea,  if  any  do.  They  are  observed  and 
may  be  taken  at  different  places  through  the  Strait  of  Juan  de  Fuca, 
but  it  could  not  be  learned  that  they  move  through  this  passageway  in 
such  defined  schools  as  are  characteristic  of  the  other  species.  Should 
they  do  so,  however,  they  may  swim  too  low  to  fall  under  the  observa- 
tion of  ihe  fishermen.  From  all  the  data  that  have  been  collected  it 
seems  not  improbable  that  the  species,  in  general,  never  goes  far  from 
land,  this  view  being  strengthened  by  the  fact  that  the  river  runs  begin 
very  early  in  the  year. 

In  tiid  stomachs  of  individuals  captured  in  the  G-ulf  and  Son.^.d, 
shrinips,  herring,  and  other  i>>mall  pelagic  fishes  have  very  commonly 
been  observed^  showing  positively,  if  such  proof  were  needed,  that 
they  avail  themselves  of  the  opportunities  for  feeding  afforded  by  the 
inner  waters,  as  good  undoubtedly  as  could  be  found  upon  the  outer 
coast.  It  is  this  circumstance  which  leads  to  their  taking  bait  and 
makes  them  the  object  of  a  hook-and-line  fishery,  both  for  market  and 
for  sport.  Whether  they  continue  feeding  in  the  salt  water  during  the 
spring  and  summer  was  not  learned.  They  are  said  o  refuse  both  food 
and  bait  during  their  passage  up  the  Fraser  Eiver,  which  is  in  accord- 
autje  with  the  general  understanding  of  their  fresh-water  habit,  but 
exceptions  to  this  rule  seem  to  have  been  quite  clearly  demonstrated  in 
the  case  of  certain  small  rivers  which  will  be  referred  to  again. 

The  line  fishing  or  trolling  is  carried  on  mainly  during  November, 
December,  January,  and  February,  by  both  Indians  and  whites.  The 
principal  localities  brought  to  our  attention  were  oft"  Nanaimo,  Howes 
Sound;  off  tlio  estuary  of  the  Fraser  Itiver;  off  Victoria,  Becher  Bay, 
among  the  San  Juan  Islands;  off'  P  .itTownsend,  oft'  Fort  Gamble,  and 
in  Hoods  Canal  One  of  our  informants  had  often  fished  successfully  for 
the  quinuat  during  these  months  at  Nanaiuio  within  10  yards  of  the 
wharves,  using  spooa  bait.  The  fish  occurring  there  would  disappear 
in  February,  beginning]:  then  to  make  their  way  up  the  rivers.  Another 
inforuuiiit  described  th«  gt^uera'  fishery  off  Nanaimo  as  deep-water  troll- 
ing with  herring  bait  and  spoon,  which  continues  until  into  March  or 
April,  aft*,r  which  the  fish  become  ucarce.  At  Victoria  winter  fishing  is 
carried  on  to  a  distance  of  8  or  10  railes  from  shore,  chiefly  from  Decem- 
ber to  February,  inyhisive,  thw  Itidians  going  out  whenever  the  weather 
is  suitable.  Supplies  are  also  received  at  Victoria  from  Becher  Bay, 
Some  fishing  is  done  at  Port  Townsend  close  by  the  wharves  and  farther 
off  shore,  but  the  ilsh  do  not  seem  to  be  as  abundant  there  as  in  other 
]>laces.  The  San  Juan  Islands  afford  good  winter  grounds,  and  quinnat 
are  also  taken  among  those  islands  in  April  and  May. 

The  quiuraL  rommence  schooling  and  running  as  early  as  February. 
On  the  upper  part  of  the  Washington  coast  the  first  run  occurs  in  that 


H 


4    I 


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282       REPORT   OP   C0MlfI8BI0N£R   OP   PISH   AND    FISHERIES. 

month,  the  ^oh  following  the  herring  north  aronnd  Point  Roberts.  A 
second  run  is  said  to  begin  the  latter  part  of  April  and  to  continue 
during  May  and  June,  small  numbers  also  passing  Point  Roberts  during 
the  remainder  of  the  summer,  when  they  may  be  taken  in  the  traps  set 
for  the  sockeye.  The  fall  run  starts  in  the  latter  part  of  September 
and  ends  some  time  in  October.  Among  the  San  Jnan  Islands  the 
movements  were  described  as  practically  the  same. 

This  species  seems  to  enter  many,  if  not  most,  of  the  rivers  of  this 
region,  the  abundance  in  each  being  measured  by  the  size  of  the  stream. 
A  few,  it  is  said,  may  be  found  in  the  lower  40  miles  of  the  Eraser 
Biver  during  the  entire  winter,  but  nothing  is  known  of  theii  habits 
there  at  that  time.  Scattered  individuals  begin  to  enter  and  ascend 
the  river  in  February,  and  in  some  years,  it  is  claimed,  as  early  as 
January,  dependent  npon  the  openness  of  the  winter,  but  the  species 
remains  scarce  until  in  April.  Some  fishing  may  be  done  the  last  of 
March,  but  not  until  the  river  becomes  somewhat  discolored  by  the 
spring  freshets  are  the  conditions  favorable  for  the  extensive  use  of 
drift  nets.  The  main  part  of  the  spring  run  occurs  in  May  and  June, 
being  heaviest  in  the  latter  month,  when  the  best  fishing  may  be  bad. 
As  July  comes  on  the  supply  drops  off,  and  during  that  moncii  and 
August  only  a  few  are  obtained,  in  conjunction  with  the  sockeye.  The 
fall  run,  commencing  generally  in  the  latter  part  of  September  and 
continuing  into  October,  whi^e  of  sc/me  importance,  is  much  inferior  to 
the  spring  run. 

The  quinnat  apparently  distribute  themselves  quite  generally 
thronc;hout  the  Fraser  lliver  system,  and  ascend  the  d'fferent  branches 
as  far  as  conditions  permit.  The  earlier  or  spring  runs  travel  farthest 
upstream,  the  fall  fish,  it  is  said,  spawning  in  lower  tributaries,  one  of 
which  is  Pitt  River,  only  about  50  miles  above  New  Westminster,  and 
a^to^her,  Harrison  Bi\er,  somewhat  higher  up.  The  spawning  season, 
according  to  Oanad'idu  authorities,  is  .nainly  in  the  latter  part  of  Sep- 
t«mber  and  during  October. 

The  artificial  prupagation  of  the  species  was  taken  up  on  the  Fraser 
River  in  1884,  at  the  same  time  as  the  sockeye,  but  was  discontinued 
after  five  years'  trial.  It  had  been  the  origiaal  intention  to  obtain  at 
least  a  portion  of  the  spawn  from  the  Columbia  River,  with  tlio  object 
of  attempting  to  increase  the  proportion  of  fish  with  more  deeply  col- 
ored fiesh,  but  this  part  of  the  plan  was  never  carried  out,  operations 
being  entirely  confined  to  the  local  run.  The  parent  fish  were  caught 
with  dip  nets  at  night  in  swift  water  on  the  Harrison  River  rapids, 
where  they  lay,  and  were  held  in  cribs  awaiting  stripping.  According 
to  Mr.  Mowat,  the  species  is  bard  to  strip,  and  in  some  cases  it  is 
necessary  to  handle  the  fish  two  c  r  three  times  to  obtain  all  their  spawn. 
The  eggs  are  large  and  vary  a  jreat  deal  in  color.  Thbir  number  is 
small  in  comparison  with  the  Salmo  salar,  averaging  only  about  4,000 
to  each  fish,  and  the  period  of  incubation  is  very  much  shorter,  this 
being  accounted  for  by  the  temperature  of  the  water,  which  is  higher 


If 


i: 


FISHERIES  OP   WASHINGTON  AND  BRITISH   COLUMBIA. 


283 


in  the  Eraser  fiivef  during  the  winter  than  in  the  salmon  rivers  of  the 
Atlantic  coast.  Parr  kept  to  the  age  of  seven  months  attained  a  length 
of  3  to  4  inches.  The  total  number  of  fry  planted  during  the  five  years 
was  only  about  6,000,000,  an  amount  quite  insufficient  to  have  any 
appreciable  effect  toward  increasing  the  supply.* 

Very  little  information  was  obtained  regarding  the  runs  in  other 
rivers  than  the  Eraser,  as  not  much  fishing  is  (^one  in  any  of  them,  but 
the  seasons  are  essentially  the  same  in  all,  so  far  as  could  be  learned. 
We  were  toid,  by  a  close  observer  acquainted  with  the  region,  that  in 
the  Gowichan  and  Nanaimo  rivers  of  southeastern  Vancouver  Island 
they  begia  running  about  the  time  the  snow  freshet  commences  i  i 
February.  During  the  early  part  of  the  season  they  ascend  leisurely, 
stoppinpr  in  the  pools,  where  good  sport  fishing  may  be  had,  and  finally 
reaching  the  lakes  at  the  head  of  both  rivers,  where  they  remain  until 
the  spawning  time.  Later  runs  occur  up  to  and  including  the  early  fall. 
In  Washington  the  Skagit  Biver  furnishes  the  largest  catches  which 
reach  the  Seattle  market,  but  they  are  regularly  fished  for  on  several 
other  rivers. 

Eighteen  pounds  is  given  as  a  fair  average  size  for  tbe  qninnat  on  the 
Eraser  liiver,  but  in  the  Seattle  n*  "ket  tbe  average  was  placed  between 
20  and  25  pounds.  In  the  mark  itch  they  range  down  to  about  10 
pounds,  and  individuals  weighing  4o  to  50  pounds  are  taken  t'  suiue 
extent.  Tbe  extreme  sizes  brought  to  our  notice  were  60,  70,  and  80 
pounds,  but  these  are  rare. 

N^otwithstandlhg  the  generally  high  esteem  in  which  tbe  qninnat 
salmon  is  held,  it  exhibits  in  this  region  a  remarkable  pecn  arity, 
only  exceptionally  occurring  elsewhere,  which  seriously  lii'ects  its  sule. 
While  in  some  of  the  fish  the  flesh  has  its  ordinary  de*  :  >  pink  color,  in 
others  the  flesh  is  white,  or  only  slightly  tinged  with  pink.  All  inter- 
mediate gradations  of  coloration,  as  well  as  intermixtures  of  the  two, 
occur,  and  no  degree  of  this  variation  is  distinguishable  fr(^iii  the  out- 
side. One  end  of  the  fish  may  be  pink  and  the  other  wt'  or  the  two 
sides  may  differ  in  this  respect.  White  stripes  may  extend  through 
the  pink  meat,  or  the  reverse,  and  spots  of  one  color  may  be  dissemi- 
nated through  a  mass  of  the  other.  In  the  paler  fish  tbe  color  may 
greatly  fade  or  disappear  entirely  during  the  process  of  cooking,  salt- 
ing, or  canning.  In  a  letter  transmitting  specimens  to  Washington  for 
examination,  in  1887,  Mr.  Mowat  describes  the  conditions  as  follows: 

I  find  that  some  of  tbe  run  are  pure  white;  some  are  very  pale  pink;  Bonie  a  little 
darker,  and  others  of  a  fair  color,  like  the  samples  sent.  I  also  find  that  some  are 
white  on  the  outside  near  the  skin  for  about  1  inch  in  depth,  then  gradually  turn 
a  pale  pink,  deepening  in  color  as  the  bone  is  reached.    A  few  fish  of  this  description 


*  Since  the  above  was  written  information  has  been  received  regarding  a  private 
h"tobery  built  on  Saiuish  Lake,  near  Fairhaven,  Wash.,  in  the  tall  of  ISSe,  in  which 
r  »out  2('m),0(K)  quiuniit  eg^s  from  thn  Columbia  River  were  at  once  placed,  And  also 
about  100,U00  e^gs  of  the  silver  salmon  from  local  sources.  An  effort  is  being  made 
to  have  the  iStatn  assume  the  expense  of  running  this  hatchery  and  to  have  its 
capacity  enlarged. 


i- 


)-i 


284       REPORT   OP   COMMISSIONER   OP   PISH    AND   FISHERIES. 

are  found  among  the  July  run,  but  the  majority  of  the  quinnat  salmon  running  now 
are  white  or  pale  pink.  Fish  wanting  in  cole,  are  not  canned,  as  cooking  will  draw 
the  balance  of  the  coloring  from  them.  On  examining  a  number  of  these  fish  n  few 
days  ago,  I  found  some  of  them  with  a  slight  tinge  of  pink  around  the  bone  and  that  the 
majority  of  them  would  spawn  within  a  month.  The  ova,  like  the  fish,  also  varied 
in  color ;  but  the  lighter  they  were,  the  larger  and  nearer  to  maturity .  The  same  par- 
ticularities as  to  color  occur  in  eggs  taken  ttom  the  fish  on  the  spawning-grounds. 

The  lighter  or  off-colored  fish  are  said  to  be  found  at  all  times,  but 
their  proportionate  number  may  vary  more  or  less  at  different  seasons. 
Thus,  for  instance,  on  the  Fraser  River  the  white- meatod  fish  are  reported 
generally  to  form  only  a  small  percentage  of  the  spiing  catch,  though 
their  number  may  increase  toward  the  end  of  the  spring  run.  Begin- 
ning in  August  or  by  September  1,  however,  the  number  becomes  very 
large,  and  before  the  season  closes  may  reach  a',  high  as  60  to  90  per  cent. 
In  Paget  Sound  and  the  more  southern  rivers,  on  the  contrary,  it  is 
claimed  that  the  percentage  remains  more  nearly  iiniform  throughout 
the  fishing  season,  although  the  average  co.^or  may  turn  a  little  lighter 
as  the  season  advances,  and  that  the  percentage  of  the  whitemeated 
fish  is  not  so  large  as  at  the  north.  That  so  marked  a  dift'eronce  as 
is  described  should  be  manifested  in  a  region  of  such  limited  extent 
is  striking  if  true,  but  it  is  not  at  all  improbable  th^t  the  statements 
are  somewhat  at  fault.  There  is  no  doubt,  however,  that  a  very  laige 
number  of  the  light-colored  fish  are  taken.  Epicures  claim  that  their 
meat  is  as  rich  and  as  well  flavored  as  though  it  possessed  the  deeper 
color,  but  by  people  generally  the  salmon  are  graded  according  to  color, 
whether  ft'esh,  canned,  or  salted,  and  a  prejudice  exists  against  any 
which  have  not  the  prescribed  shade.  There  is,  therefore,  scarcely 
any  sale  for  the  paler  flsli.  Win  n  placed  upon  the  market  fresh  they 
command  a  very  inferior,  price,  w  liile  canned  or  salted  they  rarely  find 
a  purchaser.  It  is  hoped  that  this  prejudice  will  soon  be  overcome, 
permitting  what  is  now  essentially  a  waste  product  to  be  utilized  in 
areordance  with  its  true  value. 

Leaving  the  question  of  color  out  of  consideration,  the  quinnat  are 
said  to  be  always  in  good  condition  when  taken  in  the  salt  water,  the 
winter  catch  being  the  best.  During  their  movements  up  the  rivj^r 
they  are  also  in  prime  condition  in  i;he  si  'ing,  but  as  the  summer 
advances,  especially  by  August,  they  show  i-onsiderable  deterioration, 
which  increases  as  the  spawning  season  approaches,  until  finally  they 
practically  cease  to  have  any  market  value. 

The  quinnat  taken  in  this  region  are  most  highly  valued  for  the  fresh 
market.  There  is,  in  comparison  with  the  extent  of  population,  a  rela- 
tively large  local  sale,  and  in  the  spring  a  considerable  export  trade  to 
the  Eastern  cities  of  the  United  States.  The  latter  begins  at  an  early 
date  and  continues  on  rather  an  extensive  scale  until  about  the  1st  of 
June,  by  which  time  generally  the  season  for  the  Atlantic  salmon  has 
fairly  opened  and  the  demand  comes  practically  to  an  end.  It  may, 
however,  still  be  shipped  for  a  time  in  small  <|uantities  to  inland  points 


1 


FISHERIES   OP   WASHINGTON   AND   BRITISH   COLUMBIA.       285 

ab  f'Kt  east  as  Ohicago.  The  spring  trade  is  said  to  be  constantly 
increasing,  and  in  a  frozen  condition  the  species  is  now  being  sent  to 
foreign  countries.  A  considerable  quantity  is  also  salted  for  export, 
and  after  the  heavier  shipments  to  the  East  Iiave  ceased,  and  the  high 
price  then  prevailing  has  fallen  in  consequence,  they  maybe  put  up  by 
a  few  of  the  canneries,  especially  on  the  Fraser  Biver.  By  the  time 
the  canneries  are  in  full  operation,  however,  the  quinnat  have  become 
scarce,  and  in  the  fall  their  quality  has  depreciated,  while  the  incon- 
venience otKsasioned  by  the  number  of  light-meated  fish  in  the  catch 
causes  many  of  the  canners  to  avoid  handling  them  even  at  a  season  when 
their  condition  might  otherwise  be  favorable.  The  canned  quinnat  of 
good  color  is  graded  about  with  the  sockeye,  the  deeper  and  more 
stable  tint  of  the  latter  increasing  its  relative  value  as  compared  with 
the  quinnat,  despite  the  inferior  quality  of  its  flesh. 

On  the  Fraser  Biver  commercial  fishing  for  the  quinnat  is  restricted 
to  the  use  of  drift  nets.  On  the  Washington  coast  the  species  is 
obtained  only  to  a  limited  extent  in  traps,  which  are  seldom  set  until 
after  the  principal  runs  are  over,  and  the  catch  therefore  consists 
mainly  of  scattered  individuals  taken  in  conjunction  with  the  sockeye. 
]!7o  dependence  is  placed  upon  the  species  at  Point  Boberts,  and  it  has 
not  been  the  practice  to  fish  for  it  specially  at  that  place.  Nets  are 
used  for  its  capture  in  some  of  the  rivers  of  Washington.  Its  game 
quality  has  led  to  a  considerable  fishery  in  the  salt  water  with  hooks 
and  lines,  which  is  carried  on  mainly  for  profit,  but  also  to  a  slight 
extent  for  sport.  The  fishermen  are  chiefly  Indians,  and  the  season  is 
l)rincipally  the  winter,  beginning  in  November.  The  method  followed 
is  trolling  with  both  bait  and  spoon  at  various  depths  below  the  .surface, 
dependent  on  the  position  of  the  fish.  Herriu,-^  is  the  bait  usually 
employed.  The  principal  localities  of  this  ^shery  have  already  been 
enumerated.  While  no  statistics  on  the  riubject  a?'e  obtainable,  the 
catch  by  this  means  is  probably  very  inferior  to  that  made  by  nets  in 
the  various  waters  of  British  Columbia  and  Washington. 

SILVER   SALMON. 

The  silver  salmon  or  coho,  Oncorhynchus  kiautch  (Walbaum),  ranks 
next  in  imi)ortance  after  the  sockeye  and  quinnat.  It  is  considered 
the  most  handsome  of  the  salmon  tribe,  and  in  the  salt  water  has  game 
qualities  in  common  only  with  the  quinnat.  The  color  of  the  flesh, 
though  much  lighter  than  in  the  sockeye,  is  as  deep  as  in  the  quinnat, 
but  it  fades  to  such  an  extent  in  cooking  as  to  make  the  species  less 
desirable  for  canning  than  either  of  the  former.  The  flesh  is  also  drier 
or  less  oily,  but  of  excellent  quality  for  the  table  when  fresh,  and  packs 
nicely.  The  Indians  prefer  this  species  to  the  sockeye  for  their  own 
use,  probably  because  it  is  more  readily  cured  by  taeir  process  of 
drying. 

The  size,  as  observed  in  these  waters,  is  reported  to  range  from  2^  to 
10  and  12  pounds,  but  to  run  generally  from  about  6  to  8  pounds.  The 
species  is  said  to  attain  30  pounds  in  Alaska. 


li 


286       REPORT   OF   GOMMI8SIONI1R   OF   FISH   AND   FISHERIES. 


There  is  some  nocertainty  regarding  the  length  of  stay  of  the  coho  in 
the  salt  watert,  f  this  region.  From  what  appears  to  be  good  authority 
it  was  learned  that  individuals  have  occasionally  been  caught  by  troll- 
ing in  the  spring  and  early  winter.  It  has  a  well-defined  run,  however, 
and  occurs  abundantly  only  during  a  limited  season,  lasting  generally 
about  six  weeks.  The  date  of  its  first  appearance  varies  in  different 
years,  as  well  as  in  different  places  during  any  one  year.  The  schools 
are  expected  to  arrive  between  the  middle  of  August  and  the  first  few 
days  in  September,  being  reported  earliest  at  points  along  the  Strait  of 
Juan  de  Fuca,  sometimes,  it  is  said,  before  the  middle  of  August. 

In  Puget  Sound  the  earliest  recorded  catch  for  the  Seattle  cannery 
was  made  on  August  28, 1889.  In  connection  with  the  fishery  in  that 
locality  no  preparation  is  made  for  taking  silver  salmon  before  Septem- 
ber 4,  and  no  reliance  is  plared  on  the  species  after  October  23,  though 
large  supplies  have  been  obtained  as  late  as  October  28  in  the  vicinity 
of  Everett,  while  in  other  localities  the  fishery  has  continued  until 
November  1.  A  few  may  even  be  taken  as  late  as  between  the  middle 
of  November  and  1st  of  December,  after  which  they  are  rarely  seen. 

In  the  Fraser  River,  while  the  coho  may  begin  ascending  even  before 
the  sockeye  season  has  fairly  closed,  they  are  not  expected  to  run  abun- 
dantly until  about  kicptember  10.  Their  movement  continues  through 
most  or  all  of  October,  but  the  duration  of  the  main  run  is  said  to  be 
only  from  four  to  six  weeks.  The  date  of  running  in  the  other  i  ivers  is 
probably  about  the  same.  A  few  may  appear  in  the  Washington  rivers 
as  early  as  August  15  to  20,  but  they  do  not  become  abundant  until  some 
time  later,  and  may  continue  ascending  until  the  last  of  October. 

The  silver  salmon  become  widely  disseminated  through  Puget  Sound 
and  the  Gulf  of  Georgia,  and  enter  many  of  the  narrower  channels 
among  the  islands,  in  which  respect  they  differ  from  the  sockeye. 
They  ascend  the  smaller  as  well  as  the  larger  streams  of  the  region, 
but  in  the  Fraser  River  they  apparently  do  not  proceed  very  far  above 
the  sea.  Much  of  their  spawning-ground  la  just  beyond  the  influence 
of  the  brackish  water,  and  for  spawning  purposes  they  may  enter  even 
little  creeks  and  rivulets  in  which  the  water  seems  scarcely  deep  enough 
to  admit  them. 

Their  spawning  season,  according  to  the  testimony  of  Canadian 
experts,  begins  about  the  middle  of  October  and  continues  until  about 
January,  but  it  is  supposed  to  occur  mainly  during  November.  In  1885 
a  few  thousand  eggs  were  hatched  artificially  at  the  Canadian  hatchery 
on  the  Fraser  River,  but  no  serious  attempt  has  been  made  to  increase 
the  abundance  of  the  species  by  this  means. 

The  silver  salmon  are  described  as  active  rovers  in  the  salt  water, 
and  their  habit  of  leaping  makes  them  readily  distinguishable  at  the 
surface.  They  occur  in  large  bodies  and  also  thinly  scattered  over 
extensive  areas,  being  erratic  in  their  movements  and  often  changing 
thoir  position  rapidly.  Near  the  close  of  October,  1886,  after  the  fishing 
season  had  apparently  ended,  schools  were  reported  off  the  town  of 


1 


FISHERIES   OF   WASHINGTON   AND   BRITISH    COLUMBIA.      287 

Everett.  Two  purse  seines  were  immediately  put  in  operation,  and  in 
one  haul  it  was  estimated  that  fully  10,000  fish  had  been  surrouuded. 
The  fishing  was  continued  nniutermptedly  during  three  days,  the  quan- 
tity assembled  beiug  the  largest  ever  known,  but  on  the  fourth  day 
they  hail  entirely  disappeared,  and  none  were  subsequently  observed 
in  this  locality.  This  sudden  disai>pearauce  from  the  salt  water  in  the 
fall  is  said  tu  be  the  rule,  and  those  Ashing  for  the  species  find  their 
occupation  abruptly  terminated.  Tho  last  of  the  large  bodies  must 
therefore  make  a  qaick  move  toward,  the  rivers  and  their  spawning- 
grounds.  The  important  flshiug-grounds  in  Puget  Sound  extend 
mainly  from  the  vicinity  of  Everett  to  Tacoma. 

There  is  a  considerable  variation  in  the  general  abundance  of  the 
species  from  year  to  year,  and  also  as  regards  different  parts  of  the 
region.  Thus,  while  they  may  be  scarce  in  some  localities  and  exceed- 
ingly plentiful  in  others  during  any  one  year,  the  following  year  these 
conditions  may  be  more  or  less  reversed,  and  this  applies  to  the  rivers 
as  well  as  to  the  salt  waters. 

There  is  a  reported  decrease  in  the  quantity  of  this  species  observed 
in  certain  places,  as  in  Semiahmoo  Bay,  Birch  Bay,  Bellingham  Bay, 
Samish  Bay,  and  Elliot  Bay,  but  if  such  a  decrease  has  actually  taken 
place  there  is  nothing  to  show  that  it  is  more  than  local  in  character. 
In  Elliot  Bay  and  some  other  places  the  fishermen  claim  that  it  is  due 
to  the  amount  of  stearriboating  now  going  on.  In  the  other  bays  above 
named  the  decrease  has  been  chargoi  against  the  continued  heavy 
fishing  by  seines  at  the  period  when  the  coho  are  entering  the  riv'ers. 

The  silver  salmon  appears  not  to  be  canned  on  the  Fraser  River, 
except  in  the  case  of  a  shortage  in  the  pack  of  sockeye.  The  same  is 
also  true  in  principle  with  regard  to  most  of  the  W^^^ington  canneries, 
but  in  fact  it  has  been  so  difQcult  to  obtain  sufficient  supplies  of  sock- 
eye  at  nearly  all  the  latter  that  the  silver  salmon  is  extensively  used 
in  place  of  it,  and  it  also  composes  an  important  part  of  the  catch 
made  for  the  Seattle  cannery,  where  the  sockeye  is  not  put  up.  It  is 
extensively  salted  on  the  Fraser  River  for  the  exi)ort  trade,  and  is  one 
of  the  favorite  species  with  the  Indians  for  their  own  use. 

The  traps  at  Point  Roberts,  Lummi  Island,  and  the  San  Juan  Islands 
are  mostly  removed  before  the  run  of  silver  salmon  is  fairly  on,  but 
some  may  be  left  in  place  for  the  special  purpose  of  obtaining  this 
species  if  the  sockeye  catch  has  been  small,  and  it  is  also  taken  in  the 
traps  in  Skagit  Bay.  The  main  supply  from  the  salt  water,  however, 
has  been  obtained  by  means  of  purse  seines,  although  drag  beines  and 
reef  nets  are  also  used,  the  former  chiefly  at  the  mouths  of  the  rivers. 
On  the  Fraser  River  the  fishery  is  by  means  of  drift  nets. 

The  silver  salmon,  like  the  quinnat,  affords  good  sport  fishing  \a  the 
salt  water,  and  may  be  taken  by  trolling,  either  with  or  without  a  spoon. 
This  method  is  resorted  to  for  commercial  purposes  in  some  localities, 
but  the  catch  is  small.  It  is  also  said  tliat  they  may  be  taken  in  this 
way  in  the  lower  2  or  3  miles  of  some  of  the  small  rivers. 

.is 


288        REPOBT   OF   COMMISSIONER   UF   FISH   AND    FISHERIES. 


THB  HUMPBACK  SALMON. 

The  humpback  salmon  or  **haddo"of  the  Indians,  Oncorhynohtu 
gorbuseha  (Walbanm),  is  a  small  species,  averaging  only  about  4  or  4^ 
pounds  in  weight,  although  the  male  may  reach  as  much  as  6  pounds. 
From  the  sookeye,  with  which  it  is  most  commonly  associated,  it  is 
readily  distinguished  by  the  shape  of  the  body,  the  much  finer  scales, 
and  the  coarse  spots  on  its  tail.  In  the  salt  waters  of  this  region  it 
occurs  chiefly  during  August,  though  appearing  generally  the  latter 
part  of  July,  and  may  continue  present  into  the  early  part  of  Septem- 
ber. Its  season,  therefore,  practically  corresponds  with  the  last  half  of 
the  sockeye  run,  and  the  two  species  are  often  obtained  abundantly 
together  in  the  trap  nets,  much  to  the  annoyance  of  the  fishermen,  as 
the  humpback  is  In  little  favor  either  for  canning, or  other  purposes.  A 
peculiarity  of  the  species  is  the  fact  that  it  makes  its  appearance  only 
in  alternate  years,  those  indicated  by  odd  figures,  as  1895,  when  we  had 
the  opportunity  of  examining  many  specimens.  If  any  are  present  in 
off  years  they  are  so  few  as  to  escape  the  notice  of  the  fishermen. 

During  the  years  of  their  occurrence  they  are  exceedingly  abundant. 
They  are  said  to  move  slowly,  in  large  schools,  rolling  in  the  water 
somewhat  after  the  fashion  of  the  porpoise,  with  the  dorsal  fin  show- 
ing at  the  surface.  Dr.  Bean  says  of  them  in  Alaska  that  they  are 
much  addicted  to  jumping  out  of  the  water,  one  of  the  commonest 
sights  in  the  vicinity  of  St.  Paul,  Kadiak,  being  the  breaching  of  the 
humpback.  In  Puget  Sound  and  the  Gulf  of  Georgia  this  habit  was 
ascribed  only  to  the  silver  salmon.  Although  quite  a  vigorous  fish, 
the  humpbacks  die  quickly  when  taken  in  the  nets. 

In  Puget  Sound,  where  they  are  regularly  fished  for,  the  earliest 
catches  are  generally  obtained  during  the  first  week  of  August,  and 
fishing  is  expected  to  continue  until  the  end  of  the  month.  Small 
numbers  have  occasionally  been  takeii  as  early  as  July  24,  and  large 
hauls  have  been  made  as  late  as  September  8.  The  season  is  probably 
approximately  the  same  for  all  parts  of  the  salt  waters,  except  that 
they  would  be  expected  to  appear  somewhat  earlier  in  the  Strait  of 
Juan  de  Fuca,  and  occasional  small  captures  by  the  drift  nets  have 
been  reported  in  the  lower  part  of  the  Fraser  River  by  July  20.   • 

While  the  humpbacks  enter  at  least  most  of  the  rivers  and  smaller 
streams  of  the  region,  they  are  said  to  avoid  certain  ones,  but  the  testi- 
mony in  this  regard  is  not  conclusive.  They  apparently  do  not  ascend 
very  far  above  the  sea,  although  they  may  reach  the  headwaters  of  the 
shorter  rivers,  to  which  class,  in  fact,  belong  most  of  the  rivers  along 
this  coast.  They  enter  all  of  the  lower  tributaries  of  the  Fraser  River, 
from  Burnaby  Lake  at  New  Westminster  to  Harrison  and  Ohilliwhack 
rivers,  and  probably  to  a  short  distance  farther  up.  They  require  but 
little  water  for  spawning,  and  even  resort  for  that  purpose  to  the  nar- 
rowest and  shallowest  creeks,  sometimes  not  over  a  few  feet  wide,  and 
a  foot  and  a  half  deep.  In  their  spawning-places  they  congregate  in 
such  exceeding  abundance  that  they  are  described  as  forming  at  timeii 


FISHERIES   OF    WASHINGTON   AND    BRITISH    COLUMBIA.      289 


almost  a  solid  mass,  fi  >m  which  the  stench  prodaced  by  the  dying  fish 
is  said  to  be  intolerable.  The  spawning  season  on  the  Eraser  River  is 
reported  to  be  from  the  latter  part  of  September  to  the  middle  of  Octo- 
ber, and  the  occasional  association  of  the  hnmpback  with  the  sockeye 
oil  the  same  grounds  daring  this  period  has  given  trouble  in  securing 
the  eggs  of  the  latter  for  the  Canadian  ha'chery. 

The  flesh  of  the  humpback  is  of  a  very  %ht  pinkish  color  and  much 
softer  than  in  the  sockeye  and  quinnat,  for  which  reasons  the  species  is 
not  highly  regarded  for  canning,  and  has  been  regularly  used  for  that 
purpose  only  at  Seattle.  The  fish  deteriorate  rapidly,  especially  when 
c&nght  in  large  quantities  and  heaped  in  scows  from  the  traps  or  seines. 
Those  in  the  lower  layers,  especially,  soon  become  damaged  and  mis- 
shapen and  lose  their  scales,  greatly  detracting  from  their  appearance. 
^Nevertheless,  the  humpbacks  are  considered  by  many  as  having  excel- 
lent food  qualities  when  taken  in  the  salt  water,  particularly  during  the 
early  part  of  the  run.  In  some  of  the  local  markets  they  are  sold  fresh 
in  small  quantities.  On  th^  Fraser  they  are  salted  and  smoked  for 
export  to  China  and  other  countries  demanding  a  cheaper  grade  of 
salmon,  and  many  are  taken  and  prepared  by  the  Indians  for  their  own 
use,  both  in  the  fresh  and  salt  waters. 

The  output  of  the  cannery  at  Seattle  consists  largely  of  the  hump- 
back, which,  selling  at  a  low  price,  finds  a  \eady  sale  in  the  southern 
part  of  the  United  States.  The  supplies  for  this  cannery  are  obtained 
mainly  in  the  salt  waters  near  and  to  the  north  of  Seattle,  by  merns  of 
drag  seines  hauled  on  the  beaches.  Small  quantities  are  also  brought 
from  some  of  the  rivers.  In  the  season  of  1891,  four  seines  operating 
for  this  cannery  made  a  total  catch  of  275,000  fish,  but  this  represents 
only  a  part  of  the  fishery  that  was  in  progress  that  year. 

The  local  demands  in  ^ther  places  along  the  shores  are  also  chiefiy 
supplied  through  the  agency  of  drag  seines,  while  on  the  Fraser  River 
the  commercial  fishery  is  by  means  of  drift  nets.  The  trap  nets  would 
appear,  however,  to  afford  the  best  means  for  the  capture  of  the  hump- 
back in  the  salt  water,  and  they  are  sometimes  so  taken  in  immense 
quantities  during  the  sockeye  run.  In  fact,  they  often  compose  by  far 
the  larger  i)art  of  the  catch,  and  as  it  is  generally  impracticable  to  do 
the  sorting  in  the  water  at  the  net,  the  entire  catch  may  be  emptied 
into  scows  and  the  overhauling  take  place  at  the  wharves.  Here  the 
humpbacks  are  culled  out  and  discarded,  causing  a  wholesale  destruc- 
tion of  the  species.  There  seems  to  be  no  immediate  solution  of  the 
problem  as  to  how  this  loss  might  be  prevented,  but  the  question  calls 
for  serious  consideration,  as  incalculable  harm  may  be  done  the  supply 
of  humpback  in  the  course  of  a  few  years,  by  which  time  its  market 
value  is  certain  to  be  much  increased. 


1 


DOO  SALMON. 


The  dog  salmon,  Oncorhynchus  keta  (Walbaum),  comes  next  after  the 
quinnat  in  size,  but  differs  greatly  from  that  species  both  in  habits  and 
in  the  quality  of  its  flesh,  while  its  peculiar  color  markings  readily  dis- 


F  C  89 19 


290       REPORT   OF   COMMISSIONER   OF    FISH   AND    FISHERIES. 


tingaish  it  from  all  other  forms.  On  the  Fraser  Biver  it  is  >said  to 
weigh  mainly  from  12  to  15  pounds,  although  many  are  taken  up  to 
25  pounds,  and  individuals  have  been  caught  weighing  40  pounds  and 
over. 

Very  little  has  been  learned  regarding  its  movements.  A  few  may 
occasionally  be  secured  as  early  as  the  middle  of  August  among  the 
other  salmon.  The  regular  run,  however,  is  stated  to  begin  in  Septem- 
ber and  to  continue  through  October  and  more  or  less  of  November, 
sometimes  not  ending  until  about  December  1.  In  the  purse-seine 
fishery  tributary  to  Seattle  the  first  catches  during  the  six  years  from 
1889  to  1894  varied  in  date  from  September  10  to  October  17,  and  the 
last  from  October  27  to  November  17.  These  figures,  however,  can  not 
be  assumed  to  indicate  at  all  positively  the  duration  of  the  run  in  any 
of  those  yCfirs  without  other  inform<ation,  as  in  some  seasons  the  fishery 
may  have  been  started  late  or  may  have  terminated  before  the  run  had 
ceased.  In  January,  1897,  dog  salmon  were  reported  present  in  the 
salt  water,  being  then  in  good  condition  and  having  the  appearance  of 
just  coming  in  from  the  ocean. 

This  species,  like  the  humpback  and  silver  salmon,  seems  generally 
not  to  ascend  the  rivers  far  above  the  sea,  but  it  enters  all  streams, 
large  and  small,  going  even  into  the  little  creeks  ibr  spawning.  Its 
distribution  in  the  Fraser  is  limited  to  the  lower  tributaries,  but  while 
it  is  there  considered  one  of  the  leactt  abundant  species,  in  some  of  the 
sn  tiller  rivers  elsewhere  it  appears  in  relatively  very  large  numbers, 
the  fish  crowding  together  in  narrow  and  shallow  places,  which  become- 
badly  polluted  by  their  dead  and  decaying  bodies.  According  to  Mr. 
A.  B.  Alexander,  in  the  fall  and  winter  all  the  small  creeks,  lagoons, 
and  sloughs  near  the  Dwamishand  Cedar  rivers.  Washington,  are  filled 
with  dog  salmon,  and  boys  find  great  amusement  in  killing  them  with 
clubs  and  stones.  In  the  rivulets  by  the  roadside,  where  the  water  is 
not  over  2  or  3  inches  deep,  dog  salmon  may  be  seen  trying  to  get 
farther  upstream.  Mr.  Mowat  says  that  they  spawn  principally  in  quiet 
creeks  and  in  the  shallow  waters  along  the  river  banks,  even  doing  so 
in  water  so  shallow  as  to  leave  i)art  of  the  back  exposed. 

The  dog  salmon  are  not  generally  held  in  good  repute,  although 
when  taken  in  the  salt  water,  especially  soon  after  coming  in  from  the 
ocean,  their  flesh  is  firm  and  they  are  handled  to  some  extent  in  the 
fresh  markfts  of  Washington.  They  are  regularly  canned  at  Seattle, 
and  small  quantities  have  been  itnt  up  at  one  or  more  of  the  otiier 
Washington  canneries,  the  su])plies  for  this  purpose  being  obtained  in 
Puget  Sound  by  means  of  purse  seines.  The  color  of  the  flesh,  which 
is  always  light,  is  said  to  grow  paler  as  the  season  advances.  The  fish 
deteriorate  rapidly  after  entering  fresh  water,  and  the  jaWs  in  the 
males  become  very  much  hooked.  The  Indians  on  the  Fraser  liiver  and 
elsewhere  nnike  use  of  the  species  to  some  extent,  more  particularly 
when  the  other  salmon  are  scarce. 


;: 


.. 


FISHERIES   OF    WASHINGTON   AND    BRITISH   COLUMBIA.       291 

8T£ELHBAD. 

This  large  trout,  the  8almo  gairdneri  of  Richardson,  is  commonly 
classed  as  oue  of  the  salmon  by  the  fishermen  of  this  region,  and  is 
customarily  sold  as  such.  In  different  localities  its  average  weight 
was  placed  at  from  8  to  15  pounds,  while  extreme  si/.es  reach  25  and 
more  pounds.  The  excellent  quality  of  its  flesh  causes  it  to  be  highly 
prized  for  the  fresh  market,  but  the  color  is  too  pale  to  suit  the  require- 
ments for  canning,  although  it  is  said  that  small  quantities  have  at 
times  been  prepared  in  that  way.  It  does  not  seem  to  be  as  plentiful 
as  any  of  the  species  of  true  salmon,  or  at  least  does  not  congregate  in 
such  defined  schools  in  the  salt  water,  and  in  other  respects  its  habits 
are  evidently  also  quite  diftereut.  It  appears  to  ascend  the  rivers  in 
small  numbers  during  an  extended  period,  but  the  main  run  begins  in 
November  and  continues  through  more  or  less  of  the  winter.  The 
species  is  not  captured  abundantly  at  sea  unless  it  be  in  a  few  places, 
the  principal  fisheries  being  carried  on  in  the  rivers  and  lakes  during 
January,  February,  and  March,  when  the  fish  are  in  excellent  condition, 
but  they  subsequently  deteriorate  and  are  not  in  favor  in  the  spring. 

The  steelhead  will  take  the  fly  in  the  fresh  water  where  it  is  clear, 
and  are  looked  upon  by  the  fishermen  as  especially  ravenous  feeders, 
not  deserving  of  protection  in  a  region  where  their  presence  is  con- 
sidered harmful  to  the  young  salmon  of  other  species,  especially  the 
quinnat  and  sockeye,  on  whose  spawning-grounds  in  the  Eraser  Kiver 
they  are  reported  to  have  been  observed.  The  Canadian  regulations, 
however,  have  greatly  restricted  their  capture  at  the  season  when  they 
could  best  be  taken.  The  spawning  season  is  said  to  be  in  the  early 
spring,  and  possibly  begins  in  the  latter  part  of  winter. 

There  is  a  sale  for  all  the  steelhead  that  are  caught  in  the  winter, 
and  they  are  especially  in  demand  for  shipping  fresh  to  the  eastern  and 
inland  markets.  This  is  largely  owing  to  the  firmness  of  the  desb, 
which  permits  them  to  be  kept  longer  in  storage  in  good  condition  than 
any  other  species,  but  as  regards  the  quality  of  the  flesh  they  do  not 
occupy  the  first  place.  The  total  annual  catch,  however,  has  been  rela- 
tively small  compared  with  that  of  most  of  the  other  salmon.  The 
fresh-water  fishing- grounds  are  widely  distributed,  Sumas  Lake  being 
one  of  the  most  important  in  the  Fraser  basin.  In  Washington  the 
principal  fisheries  are  on  the  Skagit  Eiver,  but  in  nearly  all  other  rivers 
of  any  size  the  species  seems  to  be  taken  in  greater  or  less  quantities. 

According  to  the  report  of  the  State  fish  commissioner  of  Washing- 
ton for  1898,  this  species  has  been  the  mainstay  of  a  large  portion  of 
the  Washington  fishermen  during  the  winter  months,  and  the  fishery 
has  been  fairly  lucrative.  The  run,  however,  had  on  the  whole  greatly 
diminished,  and  the  output  for  the  present  season,  f^om  the  best  infor- 
mation possible,  is  not  50  per  cent  of  what  it  was  two  or  three  years 
ago. 


292       REPORT   OF  0OMMI88IONBR   OF   FISH  AND   FISHERIES. 


SALMON   FISHINO. 


The  Indians  were  fishing  in  this  region  when  it  was  first  invadM  by 
the  whites.  They  were  then,  however,  solely  concerned  iu  supplying 
their  own  domestic  wants,  using  apparently  the  Hanie  appliances  they 
do  to-day,  reef  nets  and  hooks  and  lines  in  the  salt  water,  and  spears, 
dip  nets,  and  weirs  in  the  rivers.  Traders  reached  the  upper  Fraser 
very  early  in  the  century,  thence  working  to  the  sea,  and  the  salmon 
became  one  of  their  most  important  foods,  being  obtained  partly  by 
their  own  efforts  and  partly  of  the  Indians.  The  latter  gradually 
developed  into  oommercial  fishermen,  and  to-day  constitute  a  promi- 
nent element  in  the  fishing  fraternity. 

The  white  man's  fishing  seems  to  have  been  first  definitely  organized 
in  British  Columbian  waters,  as  exemplified  by  the  Fraser  Biver, 
where  its  growth  has  been  most  rapid  and  systematic,  and  where  its 
extent  is  probably  still  the  greatest.  Under  Ooveniment  supervision 
its  methods  there  have  practically  been  restricted  to  the  use  of  a  single 
form  of  apparatus,  the  drift  net,  which  is  especially  adapted  to  the 
conditions  prevailing  where  fishing  is  most  actively  carried  on,  and 
which  also  provides  that  the  industry  may  be  shared  by  the  greatest 
number  of  individuals. 

There  is  less  definite  information  regarding  the  history  of  this  sub- 
ject south  of  the  boundary  line,  although  the  whites  possibly  began 
fishing  in  the  salt  waters,  where  their  catches  have  chiefly  been  made, 
some  time  during  the  sixties.  Their  methods  have  become  much  more 
diversified  than  in  British  Columbia,  but  it  is  only  within  about  a 
decade  that  their  industry  has  attained  prominence.  Their  output 
seems  destined  very  soon,  however,  to  outstrip  the  Canadian  fishery  in 
amount  and  value,  if  it  has  not  already  done  so  at  the  time  of  writ- 
ing. Fishing  on  a  greater  or  less  scale  is  carried  on  throughout  most 
of  the  salt  waters  of  Washington,  but  extensive  operations  are  mainly 
concentrated  in  a  few  localities,  as  about  Point  Boberts,  in  Skagit  Bay, 
and  in  the  upper  part  of  Puget  Sound.  Trap  nets  have  become  the 
most  important  means  of  capture.  Before  their  introduction  purse 
and  drag  seines  and  gill  nets  were  the  principal  appliances  and  they  are 
still  used.  There  is  some  hook-and-line  fishing,  and  reef  nets  continue 
to  be  employed  by  a  considerable  number  of  Indians. 

In  the  Strait  of  Juan  de  Fuca  there  is  comparatively  little  fishing 
for  salmon.  Small  quantities  are  taken  about  Becher  Bay,  on  the  Van- 
couver Island  side,  chiefly  by  Indians,  who  also  fish  at  the  outer  entrance 
of  the  strait,  off  Cape  Flattery  and  Neah  Bay,  where  one  or  more 
species  are  said  to  be  sometimes  quite  abundant.  On  the  south 
shore  fishing  in  a  small  way,  mainly  for  the  fresh  market  and  local 
use,  has  been  carried  on  for  some  years,  seines,  gill  nets,  and  hooks 
and  lines  being  used.  It  is  engaged  in  by  both  whites  and  Indians, 
who  operate  at  several  places  along  the  coast,  and  also  to  a  slight 
extent  in  the  Elwhaand  Dungeness  rivers.    The  sockeye  is  not  known 


H  - 

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z  3 

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i  5 

CD  2 

O  (T. 

•n  _ 

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m 
o 


f 


Rspnn  U.  S.  F.  C    1899      (In  far.n  page  292.) 


HLATt  10. 


ili; 


FISHERIES   OF   WASHINGTON   AND   BRITISH   COLUMBIA.       293 


to  appear  on  this  shore,  bat  all  the  other  epecies  are  reported  to  be 
taken. 

Point  Boberts  has  figured  most  conspicnoasly  in  cue  Washington 
fishery,  and  the  1&.  gest  catches  have  been  made  ir  its  vicinity.  The 
principal  reef-net  gruunrt  of  the  entire  region  lies  directly  off  its  south- 
east corner,  a  large  kelp-covered  ledge,  to  which  iho  Indians  have 
undoubtedly  resorted  for  many  generations,  and  which  has  always  been 
the  cause  of  much  contention  amoug  ^he  several  neighboring  tribes. 
The  perpetu  ^1  righ";  to  fish  upon  it,  in  common  with  other  inhabitants 
of  the  territory,  was  secured  to  the  Indians  by  treaty  with  the  United 
States  in  1865,  and  while  formerly  regarded  solely  in  the  light  of  a  rich 
collecting'ground,  where  their  own  needs  could  readily  be  met,  it 
afterward?  became  the  source  of  much  revenue  in  their  dealings  with 
the  whites.  So  far  as  the  records  show,  the  Indians  have  at  no  time 
resided  permauently  on  Point  Roberts.  It  has  been  their  custom  to  be 
present  there  only  during  the  fishing  season,  chiefly  of  the  sockeye 
salmon,  from  about  July  1  until  early  in  September.  In  recent  years 
their  number  has  varied  from  150  to  200,  though  sometimes  reaching 
250.  Their  canoes  m  ac^-ive  operation  have  been  as  many  as  15  to  20, 
but  lately  the  number  has  greatly  fallen  off  through  the  intervention 
of  the  whites.  Their  drying  racks  formerly  covered  a  considerable 
area,  but  they  are  now  small  in  extent  and  have  been  entirely  driven 
from  Cannery  Point,  their  principal  location  in  more  prosperous  days. 
After  the  completion  in  1894  of  the  continuous  line  oi  traps  commanding 
the  approaches  to  the  big  reef,  its  value  for  reef-net  fishing  seems  to 
have  been  in  great  part  destroyed,  and  the  Indian  catches  declined  so 
much  in  consequence  as  to  render  the  old-time  occupation  practically 
unprofitable.  The  primitive  methods  are  making  way  for  those  of  civ- 
ilisation, and  the  process  has  not  been  wholly  devoid  of  certain  elements 
of  injustice,  which  are  by  no  means  peculiar  to  this  locality. 

While  the  visits  of  the  Indians  to  Point  Roberts  have  had  refer- 
enoe  m?inly  to  the  salmon,  they  were  at  one  time  in  the  habit  of  going 
there  in  March,  touring  some  years  but  not  continuously,  in  search  of 
dogfish,  of  which  they  are  said  to  have  secured  large  catches.  Those 
who  went  at  that  time  might  remain  until  the  salmon  season  opened. 
They  made  use  of  a  rude  sort  of  gill  net  set  along  the  flats,  in  which 
the  dogfish  became  entangled,  and  also  of  trot  lines  having  perhaps 
from  150  to  200  hooks  apiece. 

The  Indians  have  also  taken  sturgeon  in  Boundary  Bay,  have  fished 
there  with  hook  and  line  in  the  fall  for  the  silver  salmon,  and  have  used, 
by  drying,  the  large  clams  which  are  very  abundant  along  its  shores. 

There  are  no  authentic  records  of  the  earlier  fishing  by  the  whites 
about  Point  Roberta,  though  it  is  well  known  that  they  were  aittracted 
there  many  years  ago  by  the  abundance  of  the  salmon.  In  the  begin- 
ning, however,  it  is  probable  that  their  supplies  were  chiefly  obtained 
by  purchase  from  the  Indians.  During  the  period  when  the  Hudson 
Bay  Company  was  active  ou  the  west  coast,  agents  of  the  company 


f 


294        REPOKT    OF    COMMISSIONER   OF   FISH    AND    FISHERIES. 


made  annual  visits  to  the  Point  for  the  jiurpoae  of  adding  to  their  stock 
of  saluion.  In  the  early  sixties,  accordia^  to  one  informant,  who  has 
had  a  long  experience  iu  the  region,  several  men  were  engaged  in  fish- 
ing and  purchasing  at  the  Point  in  a  small  way.  There  was,  however, 
little  expansion  in  the  work  for  over  a  decade,  and  practically  not  until 
about  1876,  when  parties  from  Seattle  went  there  to  ♦•ngage  more 
regularly  in  the  business,  which  then  consisted  chiefly  iu  salting  and 
barreling  fish.  The  canneries  on  the  Fraser  River  also  began  to  obtain 
some  of  their  supplies  from  this  locality,  but  apparently  never  in  large 
quantities. 

The  Indians  furnished  a  part  of  the  salmon;  the  remainder  were 
taken  in  drag  seines  measuring  about  100  fathoms  long  by  35  feet  deep 
and  with  a  4-inch  mesh.  From  4  to  C  of  these  seines  were  in  use  from 
about  1875.  The  seining-grounds  were  on  the  west  side  of  Point 
Roberts,  extending  northward  from  the  southwest  corner  a  distance  of 
about  1^  miles,  where  the  shore  is  free  from  stones  and  well  adapted  to 
the  purpose.  These  nets  were  operated  during  the  sockeye  season,  and 
later  for  the  silver  salmon,  which  species  was  taken  in  the  greater 
abundance.  Humpback  salmon  could  be  secured  in  large  numbers,  but 
they  had  no  sale  and  were  only  used  by  the  Indians.  The  (juinnat  were 
never  fished  for,  as  they  ran  too  early  in  the  year,  when  the  weather 
was  still  stormy.  Purse  seines  have  also  been  employed  about  Point 
Roberts  for  some  years,  and  are  still  used  there  to  some  extent. 

There  are  no  figures  showin'"  the  catch  during  this  period,  but  it  is 
said  to  have  fluctuated  greatly,  dependent  upon  the  abundance  of  the 
fish  and  the  number  of  men  at  work,  the  latter  having  varied  from 
year  to  year.  Between  1875  and  1889,  according  to  the  accounts 
received,  the  maximum  number  of  whites  present  iu  any  season  was 
about  30.  In  some  of  those  years  the  output  would  not  have  exceeded 
450  barrels  of  salted  salmon,  while  in  otliers  it  reached  as  many  as 
3,000  barrels.  This  was  in  addition  to  what  might  have  been  sent  to 
the  Fraser  River. 

Fishing  on  a  greater  or  less  scale  is  carried  on  in  most  of  the  Wash- 
ington rivers  which  empty  into  Puget  Sound  and  the  Gulf  of  Georgia. 
The  Skagit  is  the  principal  of  these  rivers,  and  is  especially  noteworthy 
as  the  resort  of  the  sockeye  as  well  as  of  all  of  the  other  species  of 
salmon.  The  runs  are  relatively  large  and  excellent  opportunities  for 
fishing  are  thus  afforded.  Previous  to  1893,  however,  most  of  the 
catch,  such  as  it  was,  was  disposed  of  locally  to  ranchmen,  mill  iiands, 
and  settlers,  but  in  the  year  mentioned  it  is  said  that  300,000  i)ounds 
of  salmon  from  this  river  were  sold  to  the  markets  in  Seattle.  These 
were  caught  between  Sedro  and  the  month  of  the  river,  and  consisted 
in  largCipart  of  quinnat  and  steelheads.  The  number  of  fishermen  was 
about  50,  of  whom  perhaps  one-half  mside  this  business  their  regular 
occupation.  Above  Sedro,  including  Baker  River,  the  catch  during 
the  same  year,  reported  to  have  been  about  136,000  pounds,  was  still 
entirely  utilized  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  neighboring  country. 


4- 


FISHERIES    OP   WASHINGTON    AND   BRITISH    COLUMBIA.       295 

Sets  were  employed  up  to  1893  only  in  the  main  Skagit  River.  They 
were  mostly  gill  nets  of  two  kinds,  one  being  set,  the  other  drifting 
when  in  ube.  The  same  year  two  seines,  100  fathoms  long  and  30  feet 
deep,  with  a  3-inch  mesh,  were  operated  at  La  Conner  at  the  mouth  of 
the  river,  and  in  the  same  neighborhood  the  Indians  had  four  seines 
of  the  same  mesh,  30  fathoms  long  and  10  feet  deep.  A  salmon  wheel 
was  also  built  in  that  year  a  few  miles  below  Sedro,  but  the  results  were 
not  satisfactory.  Nearly  all  of  the  salmon  taken  in  its  two  brandies, 
the  Baker  and  Cascade  rivers,  up  to  1893  were  obtained  by  means  of 
spears  and  gaft's,  both  whites  and  Indians  resorting  to  this  method. 

The  recent  rapid  development  of  the  salmon  market  at  Seattle,  the 
establishment  of  canneries  at  Anacortes,  and  the  demands  from  canneries 
at  more  distant  places  have  given  a  fresh  impetus  to  the  fishery  in  both 
the  Skagit  lliver  and  the  bay  of  the  same  name  into  which  it  empties. 
In  the  latter  especially  has  there  been  a  marked  increase  in  the  amount  of 
apparatus  employed,  which  consists  of  trap  nets,  gill  nets,  and  seines. 

The  Nooksack  River  is  also,  in  proportion  to  its  size,  becoming  of 
considerable  importance  as  a  salmon  stream.  The  sockeye  have  been 
said  to  enter  it,  but  the  evidence  to  that  effect  is  not  conclusive.  Fish- 
ing is  carried  on  directly  oft"  the  mouth  of  the  river  as  well  as  at  several 
places  along  its  course.  Gill  nets  have  been  chiefly  employed,  and  it 
has  been  proposed  to  introduce  trap  nets  near  the  mouth. 

The  salmon  lishermen  on  both  sides  of  the  line  are  of  many  nation- 
alities, most  maritime  nations  of  Europe  being  represented  and  also  the 
Japanese.  A  large  proportion  consists  of  Indians  and  half  breeds,  and 
some  negroes  are  also  employed.  The  Chinese,  however,  while  they 
compose  the  bulk  of  the  help  in  the  canneries,  have  participated  only 
to  a  very  slight  extent  in  the  fishing  and  not  at  all  in  Canadian  waters. 
Nearly  if  not  quite  all  of  the  trap-uetters  are  whites. 


t 


TBAP   NETS, 

The  use  of  trap  nets  in  this  region  has  been  restricted  almost  exclu- 
sively to  the  United  States  and  mainly  to  the  capture  of  the  sockeye 
salmon  in  the  clear  salt  waters,  where  no  other  kind  of  api)aratus  seems 
to  be  so  well  adapted  for  taking  this  species  in  the  large  (juantities 
required  by  the  canneries.  With  the  few  exceptions  elsewhere  noted, 
therelbre,  we  find  these  nets  distributed  only  along  the  course  taken 
by  the  sockeye  on  their  passage  from  the  sea  to  their  spawning  rivers. 
They  have  not  been  tried  in  the  Strait  of  Juan  de  Fuca,  however,  nor 
does  it  seem  probable  that  the  sockeye  schools  skirt  the  shores  of  that 
channel  closely  enough  to  give  occasion  for  their  employment  at  any 
place  unless  it  be  in  the  vicinity  of  Becher  Bay,  on  Vancouver  Island. 

The  first  locality  in  the  pathway  of  these  fish  where  profitable  trap- 
net  fishing  has  been  found  is  iit  the  southern  end  of  San  Juan  Island. 
Of  the  schools  which  turn  soutliward  after  i)assing  tiie  San  Juan  group, 
the  only  ones  recogni/.ed  comirHMiaally  are  those  which  enter  through 
Deception  Pass  into  8kaf;it  Bay  and  River.    Trap  nets  have  been  used 


296       REPORT   OP   COMMISSIONER   OF    PISH    AND    PI8HERIE8. 


V^flBS 


in  Skagit  Bay  tor  several  years,  but  the  catch  there  also  consists  in 
large  part  of  silver  salmon  and  the  quinuat. 

As  the  main  body  of  the  sockeye  moves  northward  through  the 
Gantol  de  Haro  and  Eosario  Strait,  the  finest  opportunities  for  the  cap- 
ture of  ibis  species  are  to  be  expected  in  that  direction.  In  the  former 
passage,  however,  no  successful  trap-net  sites  had  been  discovered  up 
to  1896,  although  trials  had  been  made  at  Henry  and  Stuart  islands 
and  probably  elsewhere.  In  Bosario  Strait,  moreover,  good  fishing 
with  these  nets  has  heretofore  been  found  only  in  the  vicinity  of  Village 
Point,  on  Lummi  Island.  Trials  have  been  made  along  the  mainland 
shore  north  of  Lummi  Island,  but  the  principal  trap-net  grounds  of 
the  region,  and  the  last  before  the  boundary  is  reached,  are  those  fur- 
nished by  Boundary  Bay  and  the  waters  about  Point  Roberts.  In  this 
locality  traps  have  been  in  use  the  greatest  length  of  time  and  in  the 
greatest  number,  while  their  catch  has  exceeded  many  times  that  of 
all  the  other  similar  nets  combined. 

The  Canadian  government  has  constantly  opposed  the  placing  of 
trap  nets  in  British  Oolumbian  waters,  although  much  pressure  in  favor 
of  their  construction  has  been  brought  to  bear.  In  1894,  however,  it 
yielded  to  the  extent  of  permitting  the  building  of  one  such  net  in 
Boundary  Bay,  the  number  being  increased  to  two  in  1895.  Taking 
into  consideration  their  position  in  the  upper  part  of  Boundary  Bay, 
where  any  fish  they  might  intercept  would  be  headed  toward  the  group 
of  nets  in  the  adjacent  waters  of  the  United  States,  this  concession  can 
not  be  regarded  as  inconsistent  with  the  general  policy  of  the  Cana- 
dian government  in  the  matter  of  this  class  of  fishing.  The  position  of 
these  nets,  however,  is  unfavorable,  and  it  is  doubtful  if  they  can  be 
made  to  pay,  especially  in  view  of  their  distance  from  the  Canadian 
canneries.  Except  for  a  sort  of  fascine  arrangement  tried  unsuccess- 
fully in  1877,  no  traps  have  ever  baen  used  on  the  lower  Fraser,  and 
the  quantity  of  sediment  and  drift  brought  down  by  the  current  would 
probably  interfere  with  the  proper  working  of  such  apparatus. 

The  total  number  of  traps  in  operation  during  more  or  less  of  the 
season  of  1895  was  21,  but  not  nearly  all  of  these  are  known  to 
have  made  good  catches,  especially  of  sockeyo,  and  several  were 
practically  failures.  Twenty-nine  additional  trap-net  sites  which  had 
been  tried  in  previous  years,  but  had  been  abandoned  for  one  cause  or 
another,  were  definitely  located  the  same  year  by  the  Fish  Commission 
party,  but  the  actual  number  of  such  sites  must  have  been  much 
greater.  New  traps  were  added  in  several  places  in  1896, 1897,  and 
1898,  but  their  exact  positions  have  not  been  learned.  The  total  num- 
ber in  1898,  however,  was  much  greater  than  in  1895.  ^^^he  future 
growth  of  the  fishery  can  not  be  predicted.  Despite  its  rapid  develop- 
ment it  has  met  with  many  reverses,  and  much  capital  has  been  sunk. 
Only  a  certain  proportion  of  the  nets  have  realized  the  expectations  of 
their  builders,  and  the  location  of  successful  sites  has,  in  most  o>:He8, 
been  the  result  of  actual  trial,  generally  following  one  or  more  faiiureb^ 


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M^.-._ 


FISHERIES   OF   WASHINGTON   AND   BRITISH    COLUMBIA.      297 

as  little  reliance  can  be  placed  upon  the  existing  knowledg3  of  the 
mpveinentfl  of  the  fish.  How  the  growth  of  the  industry  may  affect 
operations  on  the  Fraser  River  and  the  abundance  of  the  sockeye  is 
also  an  important  matter  which  remains  to  be  determined. 

CONSTRUCTION  OF  THB  TRAPS. 

The  salmon  trap  nets  are  constructed  on  the  same  general  principle 
as  the  pound  nets  of  the  Great  Lakes,  consisting  of  a  crib,  tunnel, 
heart,  and  leader;  but  they  are  usually  made  of  a  larger  size,  and 
experience  has  dictated  some  important  modifications.  The  netting 
is  of  cotton  twine,  and  is  supported  by  wooden  stakes  driven  into  the 
bottom.  Wire  netting  of  galvanized  iron,  in  place  of  the  cotton,  for 
the  hearts  and  leaders,  has  been  suggested  as  probably  more  durable, 
and  experiments  regarding  it  have  recently  been  carried  on  at  Point 
Roberts.  Floating  traps,  such  as  are  successfully  employed  for  salmon 
and  other  species  in  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  have  never  been  tried 
in  this  region,  but  their  relative  cheapness  and  the  ease  with  which 
they  can  be  shifted  from  place  to  place  are  advantages  which  might 
commend  them  to  the  fishermen  of  Washington. 

The  fishing-sites  in  the  track  of  the  sockeye  are  largely  in  exposed 
positions,  many  of  them  being  open  to  the  full  force  of  any  gale 
sweeping  across  a  wide  expanse  of  water  firom  more  than  one  direc- 
tion, as  is  especially  the  case  at  Point  Roberts.  This  condition  neces- 
sitates the  building  generally  of  stronger  traps  than  are  customarily 
used  in  other  regions.  The  stakes  are  unusually  heavy  and  are  often 
ba(ked  by  additional  piling.  The  crib,  moreover,  is  frequently 
strengthened  by  a  capping  of  timber  which  binds  the  stakes  together, 
and  this  capping  may  be  continued  along  the  top  of  the  heart  and 
even  of  the  leader  to  a  greater  or  less  distance.  This  construction 
gives  the  appearance  of  great  permanency,  but  it  is  designed  only  to 
meet  the  requirements  of  a  single  season,  and  it  sometimes  fails  even  in 
this  respect,  especially  if  the  season  be  a  stormy  one.  While  some  of 
the  upper  timbers  and  the  netting  may  be  saved,  the  stakes  are  seldom, 
if  ever,  available  for  a  second  season.  The  latter  are  rapidly  honey- 
combed by  ship-worms  and  it  is  not  the  practice  to  remove  them. 
They  are  liable  to  break  in  the  attempt  to  pull  them  from  the  bottom, 
and  in  the  course  of  two  or  three  months  they  become  so  thickly  cov- 
ered with  barnacles  as  to  chafe  the  nets  badly. 

The  length  of  the  leader  varies  according  to  location  and  the  slope  of 
the  bottom,  but  it  is  generally  much  greater  than  in  the  Great  Lakes, 
sometimes  exceeding  a  half  mile.  The  cribs  are  also  generally  of  extra 
size,  rectangular,  but  not  always  square  in  shape,  and  measured  in  the 
several  traps  examined  from  35  to  80  feet  on  a  side.  Their  depth 
ranged  from  3  to  9  fathoms,  dependent  upon  the  depth  of  water.  The 
hearts  are,  as  a  rule,  proportionally  large  for  the  size  of  the  crib,  are 
sometimes  double,  one  leading  into  the  other,  and  constitute  the  most 
novel  feature  of  the  trap.  They  vary  greatly  in  shape  to  meet  the  sup- 
posed exigencies  cf  each  locality,  and  often  have  a  leader-like  exten- 


298       REPORT   OF   COMMISSIONER   OF    FISH    AND   FISHERIES. 


sion  of  greater  or  less  length,  the  entire  arrangement  being  planned  to 
intercept  and  direct  toward  the  crib-opening  such  of  the  salmon  as  do 
not  follow  close  along  the  main  leader,  and  to  minimize  the  chances 
of  escape  of  those  which  have  entered.  This  construction,  the  out- 
come of  much  experimenting,  is  said  to  have  very  greatly  increased  the 
efifectiveness  of  the  traps. 

There  may  be  an  opening  into  the  heart  and  crib  on  both  sides  of  the 
leader,  but  it  seems  to  be  the  more  common  i)ractice  to  limit  the 
entrance  to  one  side,  at  least  as  regards  the  fishery  for  the  sockeye,  in 
view  of  the  steady  and  constant  movement  of  this  species  in  one  direc- 
tion while  on  its  passage  to  the  fresh  waters.  The  customary  double 
opening  would  offer  no  advantages  under  these  conditions. 

The  mesh  of  the  netting  is  usually  3  inches  in  the  crib  and  heart, 
and  from  3^  to  4  inches  in  the  leader.  Mesh  of  larger  size,  from  C  to  8 
inches,  has  been  tried  in  the  leaders,  but  it  is  said  to  have  proved  dis- 
advantageous, owing,  in  part  at  least,  to  the  large  quantity  of  coarse 
seaweed  which  is  often  found  floating  in  the  water,  and  which  finds 
lodgment  in  the  larger  mesh,  tending  to  clog  it  and  weigh  down  the 
net.  Observations  on  the  general  effect  of  using  the  smaller  mesh  in 
both  the  crib  and  leader  are  lacking.  The  gill-net  mesh  for  sockeye 
on  the  Fraser  Biver  is  5|  inches,  and  it  would  seem  that  the  mesh  in  the 
crib  might  be  increased  above  3  inches  without  danger  of  gilliug  adult 
fish.  There  would  be  no  object,  however,  in  taking  such  a  step,  unless 
it  were  found  that  the  present  mesh  was  destructive  of  young  salmon 
or  of  other  species  smaller  '  <  size  than  the  sockeye.  This  fact  could 
rea<lily  be  determined  byt  :eful  examination  extending  through  an 
entire  fishing  season. 

As  elsewhere  explained,  the  catches  made  in  the  trap  nets  are  some- 
times much  larger  than  can  at  once  be  handled  by  the  canneries,  and 
while  one  such  catch  might  be  held  in  the  crib  for  several  days,  it  would 
prevent  continuous  fishing  during  a  period  when  the  salmon  might  be 
running  best.  To  meet  this  contingency  an  adjunct  to  the  crib,  cu!!'>.d 
a  spiller,  has  recently  been  devised,  and  appears  to  be  coming  into  quite 
general  use.  It  is,  in  fact,  an  additional  crib,  square  in  shape,  and  con- 
nected with  the  first  by  means  of  a  tunnel,  through  which  the  surplus 
fish  of  any  catch  may  be  driven.  In  this  way  large  numbers  of  salmon 
may  be  kept  in  good  condition  for  a  considerable  time,  fishing  may  go 
on  uninterruptedly  and  without  loss,  and  the  canneries  continue  in  oper- 
ation during  intervals  when  the  runs  are  small  or  have  ceased. 

niSTRIBCTION  AND  HISTORY. 

The  shores  first  approached  by  the  sockeye  which  have  furnished 
sites  tor  trap  nets  are  those  of  the  San  Juan  Islands,  but  none  of  these 
has  so  far  been  more  than  very  moderately  successful.  How  many  trials 
have  been  made  there  as  well  as  elsewhere  throughout  the  region  it 
has  been  impossible  to  ascertain.  In  1804  two  nets  of  this  character 
were  built  on  hoyti"'.  Island.  <  >ne  was  near  Fisherman  Bay,  in  San  Juan 
Channel,  where  it  is  now  thought  the  socke>  e  never  enter,  or,  if  at  all,  in 


Report  U.  S.  F.  C.  1899.    (To  face  page  298.) 


Plate  12. 


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Plate  12. 


SALMON     TRAPS 

In  Vicinity  of  ViliIjAOb  Point 

lummi    island 

Summer  of  1899 


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FISHERIES   OP   WASHINGTON   AND   BBITISH   COLUMBIA.       299 

quaiitttiea  too  Hmall  to  be  appreciable.  The  other  was  off  the  Houth 
side  of  the  island,  in  the  vicinity  of  Long  Island,  where  sockeyo  were 
observed  in  1803,  though  they  failed  to  appear,  or  at  least  to  be  taken, 
in  1804.  The  same  year  there  was  a  trap  at  Keed  Harbor,  Stuart  Isliind, 
which  also  proved  unsuccessful,  and  none  of  these  three  places  has 
since  been  tried. 

lu  1805  there  were  again  apparently  only  three  traps  among  these 
islands,  one  of  which  was  on  Henry  Island,  near  Koche  Llarbor,  but  as 
the  site  was  evidently  unfavorable  for  the  purpose  it  was  <4oon  aban- 
doned. The  other  two  were  located  off  the  south  side  oi  Sun  Juan 
Island,  just  west  of  Cattle  Point  lighthouse.  The  eastern  one  was 
built  on  the  northwestern  edge  of  Salmon  Bank,  the  other  being  about 
three-fourths  of  a  mile  farther  west.  The  western  began  near  the  beach 
and  extended  off  a  distance  of  about  3,200  feet,  while  the  eastern  started 
some  distance  from  shore  and  had  about  2,000  feet  of  leader.  The 
extreme  depth  of  the  cribs  was  about  7^  fathoms.  It  is  said  that  the 
western  net  took  but  few  sockeye,  although  the  eastern  did  fairly  well. 
Many  humpback  salmon  and  small  quantities  of  other  species  were 
also  caught.  It  was  proposed  in  1806  and  1807  to  increase  the  number 
of  traps  among  the  San  Juan  Islands,  but  no  def  nite  information  as  to 
the  sites  occupied  has  been  obtained. 

As  to  the  waters  directly  east  of  the  San  Juan  group,  trap-net  fish- 
ing has  been  mainly  limited  to  Skagit  Bay  and  Lummi  Island.  In  1805 
there  were  two  traps  in  Skagit  Bay,  both  of  moderate  size,  one  being 
operated  at  Demock  Point,  the  northwestern  extremity  of  Oamano 
Island,  the  other  at  Huuot  Point,  near  the  southern  end  of  Fidalgo 
Island.  In  previous  years  the  following  sites,  as  well  as  others,  had 
been  occupied:  Alaki  Point,  at  the  northeast  end  of  Whidby  Island; 
the  west  side  of  Kiket  Island ;  Tosi  Point  and  Hunot  Point,  on  Fidalgo 
Island ;  and  the  shore  between  La  Conner  and  Goat  Island.  The  traps 
in  Skagit  Bay  are  placed  to  intercept  the  run  of  sockeye  which,  enter- 
ing through  Deception  Pass,  are  making  for  the  Skagit  Eiver.  Silver 
salmon  and  the  quinnat  are  also  taken  here  in  abundance,  and  supplies 
are  shipped  to  canneries  in  other  places  as  well  as  to  the  fresh  market 
at  Seattle.  By  1807  the  number  of  traps  in  operation  had  been 
increased,  and  the  industry  had  assumed  much  greater  importance 
owing  to  the  establishment  of  two  canneries  at  Anacortes. 

One  small  trap  net  was  reported  to  have  been  fished  in  1895  near 
Edison,  in  Samish  Bay,  and  another  was  projected  for  William  Point, 
Samish  Island,  in  1896.  It  was  not  learned  for  which  species  these 
nets  were  planned. 

On  the  west  side  of  Lummi  Island,  south  of  Village  Point,  three 
trap-net  sites,  about  equal  distances  apart,  had  been  occupied  up  to 
the  close  of  1805,  the  farthest  being  about  IJ  miles  from  the  point,  the 
nearest  within  one-fourth  mile.  They  lead  off  from  the  shore  from  637 
to  725  feet  into  depths  of  6^  to  8  fathoms.  One  was  built  upon  for  the 
first  time  in  1805,  but  the  others  are  of  older  date.    One  of  the  latter, 


'i.>t^^jt-^*4iVA.r*i'^v(. 


*»1JIJWI1.I,I^U 


300        REPORT    OF    COMMISSIONER    OF    FIfiH    AND    FISHERIES, 

the  fartb..st  from  the  point,  has  been  abandoned.  The  remaining 
two,  however,  are  said  t>  be  favorably  jjlaced,  bat  while  both  were  put 
to  use  in  1895,  an  injunction  obtained  against  theai  by  the  Indians 
prevented  their  omployineiit  during  most  of  the  seasoi.'.  This  was  due 
to  tbeir  location  inside  of  and  iidjacent  to  one  of  the  I'avorite  reef-net 
fishing-grounds,  which  the  Indians  claimed  was  being  injured  by  their 
prnxlraity.  Here  also,  in  1897,  a  marked  increase  was  shown  in  the 
extent  of  trap-net  fishing. 

An  elaborate  trap  built  in  1894  at  Sandy  Point,  on  the  mainland,  a 
iV'h  )rt  distance  north  of  Lummi  Island,  is  reported  to  have  taken  no 
Hockeye;  but  while  the  site  was  not  occupied  in  1895,  it  was  proposed  to 
utilize  it  again  in  1896.  Projected  traps  for  1896  were  also  to  be  located 
at  Cher  y  Point  and  Point  Whitehorn,  still  farther  north,  on  the  main- 
land. One  was  erected  in  1895  at  Biroh  Point,  but  was  used  for  only 
a  few  days.    It  was  intended  to  rebuild  it  on  a  larger  scale  in  1896. 

Point  Roberts. — The  advantages  of  the  waters  about  Point  Roberts 
%)  trap-net  fishing  will  be  understood  from  the  account  of  the  move- 
ments of  the  sockeye  after  reaching  Boundaiy  Bay.  The  number  of 
fl;?h  which  pass  around  the  point  and  the  regular  course  taken  by  the 
schools  combine  to  malie  this  locality,  as  regards  the  species  named, 
tha  most  favor c'd  of  any  in  the  Siilt  waterf^^  of  the  region. 

Point  Roberta  is  about  3  miles  wide  along  its  southern  shore,  which 
is  nearly  8traij.Vt,  and  between  4  and  5  miles  long  north  and  soutli, 
about  2  m;les  in  *iis  direction  lying  south  of  the  international  boundary 
lipo  formed  by  the  forty-ninth  parallel  of  north  latitude.  0\\  the  east 
side  it  if.  bordered  by  Boundary  Bay,  whi-^h,  including  Semiahmoo  Bay, 
has  an  extreme  width  of  about  1 1  miles.  ITorth  of  the  boundary  this 
bay  is  \ery  shallow,  being  nearly  everywhere  less  than  3  fathomsr-  deep. 
The  widi  h  of  tL^'  phallower  water  narrows  in  the  direction  of  the 
southeastern  cornar  of  Point  Roberts,  known  as  Cannery  Point,  south 
of  which.  However,  there  is  an  extensive  kelp-covered  ledge,  long  a 
favorite  fishing-ground  of  the  Indians.  After  passing  this  ledge  the 
3-fathom  curve  lies  close  inshoi-e  along  the  st  ath  side  of  Point  Roberts 
and  ^ntil  after  rounding  its  southwest  cornei,  when  it  again  bends 
offshore  (piite  abruptly  as  the  broad  bank  otf  the  mouths  of  Fraser 
Eiver  is  approached. 

The  facilities  for  the  building  of  trap  nets  in  this  locality  are  mainly 
determined  by  the  contour  of  the  bottom.  The  shallow  water  off  the 
east  side  of  the  point  gives  opportunity  for  greatly  multiplying  their 
number,  but  when  the  depths  are  slight,  the  conditions  are  generally 
h  ast  favorable  for  tlie  movements  of  the  sockeye,  and  much  of  the 
ground  is  practical ly  valueless.  More  fish  are  said  to  be  taken  along  the 
edge  of  the  deep  water  than  elsewhere,  and  those  nets  ftsli  best  which 
are  in  the  deep  water  or  lead  into  it.  The  ^  inds  also  are  a  factor  as 
regards  the  shallow  areas,  as  the  nets  up  in  :  lie  bay  do  nothing  when 
there  is  a  northwest  wind,  while  a  southerly  wind,  blowing  on  the  shore 
and  causing:  rough  water,  seems  to  drive  the  ."^sh  in.    Cannery  Point  is 


.4 


i 


»^ 


X 


FISHERIES   OP   WASHINGTON    AND    BRITISH    COLUMBIA.       301 


X 


consider  jd  to  preseut  the  best  advautages  yet  discovered,  aud  much 
larger  catches  of  sockeye  have  been  made  directly  in  front  of  it  than 
in  any  other  part  of  the  salt  water.  Along  the  south  side  of  Point 
Roberts  long  leaders  are  not  possible,  and  the  (;ribs  are  invariably 
comparatively  near  the  shore,  but  the  fish  also  keep  corrospondingly 
farther  in,  and  after  OaM  try  Point  the  next  best  sites  are  said  to  be 
in  the  neighborhood  of  the  southwest  corner.  West  of  the  pointy  up 
toward  the  bouudary  line,  the  bottom  is  again  suited  to  long  leaders. 

Trap-net  fishing  was  started  at  Point  Roberts  some  years  before  it 
was  taken  up  at  other  plices.  The  first  net  of  this  kind  was  built  by 
John  Waller,  about  1880,  oft' Cannery  Point,  a  short  distance  north  of 
the  Indian  reef,  and  this  position  appears  to  have  been  more  continu- 
ously occupied  for  the  purpose  than  any  other.  For  nearly  a  decade, 
however,  such  operations  as  were  carried  on  were  scarcely  more  than 
experimental,  and  the  results  for  the  most  part  were  small.  While  we 
have  little  information  on  the  subject,  the  traps  as  firvst  constructed 
seem  not  to  have  been  entirely  suited  to  the  capture  of  the  sock  eye, 
and  the  value  of  the  different  sites  had  yet  to  be  learned.  In  Waller's 
trap  the  ci'.b  is  said  to  have  been  only  about  20  feet  nquarft,  while 
the  leader,  measuring  some  900  feet  long,  did  not  approaisb  nearer  than 
300  feet  from,  the  shore.  It  was  set  only  during  the  sockeye  run,  the 
greater  portion  of  the  catch  being  sold  to  the  canneries  on  the  Fraser 
River,  while  the  remainder  were  salted.  Mr.  Waller  was  succeeded 
about  1885  by  a  practical  fisherman  from  the  Great  Lakes,  who  is  still 
at  Point  Roberts  and  who  has  done  much  to  bring  the  net  to  its  present 
state  of  perfection.  He  made  use  of  at  least  the  same  general  position 
as  Mr.  Waller,  but  in  1887  a  second  trap  w!i,s  added  on  the  eastern  side, 
much  nearer  the  boundary  line.  TJntil  1891  the  number  of  these  nets 
does  not  seem  to  have  been  increased  beyond  two,  the  catch  by  this 
means  continuing  small  and  being  disposed  of  as  in  the  beginning. 
In  the  last-nan^ed  year,  however,  a  small  cannery,  the  first  one  in  the 
region,  was  built  at  Scmiahmoo,  at  the  eastern  end  of  Boundary  Bay, 
and  arrangements  were  made  to  obtain  the  necessary  supplies  of  fish 
from  Point  Roberts.  This  led  to  the  erection  of  one  or  two,  possibly 
three,  additional  traps.  In  1893  a  second  cannery  was  built,  this  one 
occupying  the  southeast  corner  of  the  Point,  and  the  number  of  traps 
was  increased  to  13, 11  being  operated  by  the  two  canneries,  and  2 
independently.  Before  the  next  season  both  canneries  had  passed  into 
the  control  of  the  Alaska  Packers'  Association,  which  made  use  of  12 
trai)S  during  1894,  while  4  were  under  independent  management,  making 
10  in  all  south  of  the  boundary  line.  During  this  year  the  first  net  was 
placed  in  the  Canadian  waters  of  Boundary  Bay,  being  located  close 
to  the  line. 

In  1895  there  were  33  trap-net  locations  about  Point  Roberts,  of 
which  23  vere  east  of  the  Point  in  Boundary  Bay,  and  the  remainder 
south  aud  west  of  it.  This  number  included  both  (he  traps  in  use  and 
those  of  previous  years  whose  positions  were  still  marked  by  more  or 


41 


/ 


902     REPO«>r  or  coiniMMOin!!*  ofc  j»iMir  aitd  fisheries. 

less  of  f/be  old  ;«d4  ^eiKrally  much  deiSiiydn  iA^'-::^^.    One  object  ia 

leawii^  the  laftteriPjIlMi^e,  besides  the  i;Pou'te»W»»i,iK  >v -rf^nse  of  removing 

tbeoi,  «ai«  to  show  a  |>«!(»sMiption  of  the  jfroui  -  "upy,  and  thus, 

as  far  am  possible,  to  pr.-<«wit  encroachment  D- 

site*'  to  til*  extent  tbitt  -.iJMiy  have  been  discloK.: 

coul<^  be  gadiMd,  are  tlKJoD*}'  .'low occupies*,  and  the 

aueady  to  be  j,w«tty  ChiHuuj^iy  tH>uLioli#!rf    l>y  fchow 

althougl'    further  expei-ience  ^b^'  sujjfest  othef  pv 

TUe  extend  of  tiiifciMS'g  at  thiH  poir**   however,  vfW  j^ruu 

V  i'<wgely  i>>igalHte»<^  ^y  the  capar;*     '>f  tin*  *;iM>iM>ii«j'  nea»p  ^  hand,  or 

jjatlw^r  by  th^ir  oot^H'*  -*« dictate/l  i ».    ••«wk#'  eondi^ioo*!,  un'l«*'<v>mpeti- 

UMa  shield  aa^use  to  rff««mlate  an  a«tjv<»  civaiJiry. 

Jjleve»  traps  were  .<•    -oerntion  t»  the  eswit  o*'  i^m 
4W^  •^  thes*>  being  in  .m  wateni  a.u<?  the 

«IS*#90f -^ Camnery  Poiu'      iSJeven  vv«»  controlled 
Po«i^  iB^'ii^pts  a-ndSeiriitl  '  "     'if' r%»tch  from 


The  better 

-i"  a  foothold 

.  rounds  seem 

,1   possession, 

"  k)cations. 

'ontinue  to 


p-f. 


e«  ai; 


•r.    The»e  trap^    . 
i*i)les  from  tt»e  sbo' 
«triii^  and  two 
i^'.v.f  o<  i'bre*!  tf;< , 


•  ,<' 


.)g,'. 


^le 
♦, 


«SMS  <K»y<i— d  of  on  the  i  . .. 

(ftitribote^  t^  »  distance  of  ^ 

tfcfww  being  4MniM(0>  in  one  coi/tM 

j»eBM»»<jU»r  beoti^jite^i^d  singly,     >>>'> 

from  t^.  lAore  o<'/»o*i#y  Point  in  - 

of  i«b0«f ;»  mile,  p^i»fkfi»^  the  ao»^> 

ledge  eise*lM»re  desci^WI.    ^^  inner  tr^ ,, 

feet,  the  mt^/mi  of  »1k>u<^  '  ^  imfif-  a«d  the^ 

The  cribs  *r«w  j^r/jp*  aod  ^  f»e*  |$t^^  8ucc«»w;. . 

and  7  fathoin«,    M  noftft  o<  ti>*  <><ftiiiy  tf»p8  ow  '- 

inner  end  of  the  VwA'-y  ai|^f>roacr  «A(iif  4V^  '<m«4,  *< 

was  a  con  side -able  4w<i|»ie#»#,  *rit#m#4<!^h  </ -mmif^  jF  ^mm^4Sll^ 

cribs  ranged  lioni  3  to  *^  <^»tfc<M»>l. 

The  direction  given  to  the  l4MMl«r«  i*-  ^mtillff^  y         ^  ^ 

the  fishermen  that  the  socioye  appear  <4^  <<j«^  V^tmtAWf  ^&y  v 

the  east,  make  a  broad  sweep  westward  iA>^4  <9M«  t#W  iK#«M*>»><igf 
abruptly  southward  so  as  to  pass  out  quite  do**; '//  Cannery  #'Miit,  1fii<* 
leaders  in  the  outer  and  northernmost  traps  may  extend  north  au4 
south,  but  they  generally  deviate  from  this  course  so  as  to  trend  more 
or  less  northwest  and  southeast.  Farther  west  and  south,  however, 
they  usually  run  more  nearly  east  and  west,  but  never  exactly  so,  and 
altogether  there  is  a  very  great  vr  riatiou  in  the  direction  given  them. 
Th  Canadian  nets  are  rather  out  of  the  course  of  the  sockeye,  and 
their  catch  is  largely  dependent  ta  the  direction  of  the  wind,  which  is 
also  the  case  with  the  more  northern  nets  south  of  the  boundary.  The 
expense  of  transporting  fish  to  the  Fraser  River  also  works  to  the 
disadvantage  of  the  Canadian  nets. 

The  two  traps  in  operation  off  the  south  shore  of  the  Point  in  1895, 
both  single  ones,  were  situated  near  its  southwest  corner,  which  is 
considered  to  offer  the  best  advantages  next  to  Cannery  Point.  The 
abrupt  slope  of  the  bottom  in  this  locality  necessitates  the  use  of  short 


^(•■iwiiy..i,ii^Jt..«JPI,'f.*».'."I!B*i;"i  i^' 


■" 


.>■'■ 


J^ 


'f 


i. 


.*?r 


.^• 


J. 


.J 


/) 


Roporl  U    S.  F.  C.  1899.     (To  faco  page  302.) 


LINE. 


''•S^^'Or, 


y^^ 


TRAP    NETS 

AND 

TRAP  NET  LOCATIONS 


AT 


POINT    ROBERTS.  WASHINGTON 


Summer  of    18  9  5 


Scale  1600  feet«ii  l«cl 


The  trap  nets  in  usr  that  seeson  aro 
represented  by  full  imes,  while  the  broken 
lines  show  additional  positions  where  traps 
had   beon    locatsd  in  previous   years. 


Plate  13. 


*        <:,/!r.    -T  ,1  -f   ;>  i-*r4i 


£.w  M-^i  »i^»^W.<i> ■*»!<-**  «-  * 


■-•-* ■  -/■ 


•  ■  ^ii^' 


*  -•■>-' 


^"••i^' 

'C.'-" 


.-'" 


.^■■ 


,9  I 


rii 


T  A 


kdOT?./^KKc  AW  ,3X9133011     TvHO' 


t «    'i '.' f 1 1   ;/  i)  f^t 


.,i    .'■    f  -^  r  ■,  ,,'»  tifrnt    ,ii 


-;    ■«■.;- 


•'    1 


Fji 


l 


FISHERIES    OF   WASHINGTON   AND   BRITISH   COLUMBIA.      303 

leaders,  not  exceeding  1,800  feet,  which  begin  near  shore  and  extend 
into  depths  of  5^  and  7  fathoms.  Off  the  west  coast  there  were  also  only 
two  single  traps  in  1895,  both  being  well  up  toward  the  boundary, 
and  off  shore.  They  had  comparatively  long  leaders  extending  over  the 
edge  of  Roberts  Bank,  the  cribs  being  located  in  depths  of  64  and  9 
fathoms,  respectively,  and  at  distances  from  shore  of  about  3,200  feet 
and  1^  miles. 

In  1897  and  1898  many  additional  trap  nets  were  in  use  about  Point 
Roberts,  but  their  number  and  exact  location  have  not  been  ascer- 
tained. The  catch  of  sockeye  in  the  former  year  was  very  large,  and 
the  capacity  of  the  region  was  shown  to  be  much  greater  than  had 
been  anticipated. 

8EA80K  AND  CATCH. 

The  canneries  obtaining  their  supplies  at  Point  Roberts  desire  only 
sockeye  salmon,  and  take  other  species  only  when  the  sockeye  catch  is 
insufficient  to  meet  their  requirements.  The  trap  nets  at  that  place 
are  therefore  built  almost  exclusively  for  the  capture  of  the  sockeye, 
and,  in  view  of  the  expense  attending  their  construction  and  mainte- 
nance, it  is  doubtful  if  any  would  be  used  there  except  for  the  i)res- 
ence  of  this  species.  The  season  when  they  are  set  is  mainly  limited 
to  the  period  during  which  the  sockeye  run  continues,  generally  begin- 
ning  between  the  first  and  middle  of  July  and  closing  between  the 
middle  and  end  of  August. 

In  1894  and  1895  one  or  two  traps  are  said  to  have  been  set  for  the 
quiiinat  salmon,  commencing  between  the  10th  and  15th  of  June,  but  as 
the  weather  about  Point  Roberts  is  likely  to  be  stormy  as  late  as  that 
time,  the  risks  attending  the  working  of  the  traps  have  discouraged 
their  use  during  the  quinnat  season.  To  maintain  an  active  spring 
fishery  for  the  quinnat  by  this  means  would  require  a  special  strength- 
ening of  the  nets,  increasing  the  expense,  while  at  the  same  time  there 
would  be  constant  danger  of  their  serious  injury  or  destruction.  The 
prevailing  summer  winds  are  northwesterly,  1)ut  easterly  winds  occa- 
sionally occur,  producing  rough  water  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  nets 
in  Boundary  Bay  and  making  it  difficult  or  impossible  to  lift  them  for 
a  «lay  or  two,  especially  the  more  northern  ones  in  the  shallower  water. 
If  the  sotikeye  season  has  been  unfavorable,  a  few  of  the  traps  may  be 
left  in  position  during  a  part  of  September,  in  order  to  cover  more  or 
less  of  the  run  of  silver  salmon  in  case  it  is  desired  to  fill  out  the  pack 
with  that  species. 

As  an  indication  of  the  recent  rapid  growth  of  the  trap-net  fishery 
at  Point  Roberta,  it  may  be  noted  that  in  1892  the  catch  of  sockeye  by 
that  means  was  reported  as  about  37,000  fish,  while  in  1895  it  had 
increased  to  about  080,000  fish,  of  which  by  far  the  greatest  quantity 
was  taken  in  the  nets  of  the  nearby  canieries.  The  number  of  spring 
salmon  caught  during  the  latter  year  was  reported  at  less  than  5,000. 
Humpback  salmon  are  taken  in  connection  with  apart  of  the  sockeye  run 
in  very  large  quantities,  but  they  are  seldom,  if  ever,  used  i'or  canning. 


w 


304       REPORT   OF   COMMISSIONER   OF   FISH   AND   FISHERIES. 


Before  the  building  of  canneries  at  Semiabmoo  and  Point  Roberts 
the  Fraser  Biver  faruished  the  only  market  for  disposing  of  the  fish  in 
fresh  condition;  but  the  establishment  of  canning  operations  near  the 
location  of  the  traps  has  changed  all  this.  In  1895  the  river  canneries 
received  out  of  the  total  catch  of  680,000  sockeye  only  about  80,000,  of 
which  30,000  came  from  the  nets  in  the  Canadian  waters  of  Boundary 
Bay  and  50,000  from  three  nets  south  of  the  boundary  lino.  In  good 
years,  when  the  Fraser  Biver  catch  is  ample,  there  has  been  no  need  to 
draw  on  Boundary  Bay,  although  contracts  previously  made  may  have 
to  be  carried  out,  while  in  poor  years  there  is  a  desire  to  retain  at  Point 
Boberts  as  much  as  possible  of  i^he  sockeye  catch  made  in  that  vicinity. 
The  Fraser  Biver  canners  are,  as  a  rule,  opposed  to  handling  sockeye 
from  Point  Boberts,  except  in  <;ases  of  emergency,  for  the  rcasou  that 
the  fish  are  apt  to  deteriorate  greatly  in  condition  during  transportation, 
whbu  they  are  piled  in  large  scows  and  towed  from  the  fishing-grounds 
to  the  canneries.  The  season,  being  the  height  of  summer,  is  unfavor- 
able, and  the  fish  are  often  so  soft  upon  reaching  their  destination  that 
no  use  can  be  made  of  them.  This  happens  most  often  in  years  of  large 
catches,  when  the  competition  for  markets  is  very  great,  and  when  the 
loss  of  fish  from  this  cause  has  sometimes  been  very  heavy. 

There  is  a  marked  inequality  in  the  size  of  the  sockeye  catch  at  Point 
Boberts,  as  in  other  localities,  from  time  to  time  during  the  same  season, 
due  to  fluctuations  iu  the  abundance  of  the  fish,  as  elsewhere  explained. 
Small  catches  for  a  period  may  be  followed  by  excessive  ones  (amo^nting 
occasionally,  it  is  said,  to  from  40,000  to  50,(>00  sockeye  in  a  single  day 
by  the  principal  nets  at  Point  Boberts),  the  latter  sometimes  causing  a 
surplus  which  the  canneries  can  not  utilize  immediately.  In  this  respect 
the  trap  nets  possess  an  advantage  o>rer  the  gill  nets,  in  affording 
the  means  of  releasing  or  keeping  the  fish  alive,  through  the  crib  itself 
or  the  spiller.  The  practice  has  also  been  followed  of  removing  the 
surplus  catch  to  cold  chambers  awaiting  use. 

Notwithstanding  the  special  advantages  which  the  traps  present  in 
this  respect,  there  is  what  seems  to  be  well-founded  complaint  of  the 
waste  of  many  fish  through  their  means,  including  even  the  sockeye  in 
seasons  of  great  abundance.  The  charges  recite  that  this  species  is 
sometimes  retained  in  the  nets  until  no  longer  fit  for  use,  and  also  that 
at  times  only  a  small  proportion,  the  choicest  parts,  of  each  fish  are 
utilized  for  canning,  the  remainder  being  rejected.  As  it  is  difficult 
to  imagine  the  willful  destruction  of  so  valuable  a  fish  simply,  as  it  is 
claimed,  to  prevent  their  coming  into  the  possession  of  others,  it  is  to 
be  hoped  that  the  circumstances  are  not  so  bad  as  represented.  The 
danger  of  the  extermination  of  the  species  is  too  great  to  justify  a 
resort  to  any  such  methods  and  most  stringent  measures  should  be 
adopted  to  prevent  a  waste  in  this  direction. 

The  principal  destruction  is  probably  of  other  species  of  salmon  and 
of  fishes  belonging  to  other  groups,  which  are  trapped  in  conjunction 
with  the  sockeye  and  iu  the  removal  of  which  no  pains  are  taken  to 


Report  U.  S.  F.  C.  1899,     (To  face  page  304  1 


Plate  14. 


Rppnrt  U    S    F    C.    1899       iTii  (iice  p«gn  304  ) 


Plate  15. 


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WEBSTER,  N.Y.  MSiiO 

(716)  a73-4503 


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Report  U.  S.  F.  C.  1899.    (To  face  page  304.> 


Plate  16. 


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! 


FISHERIES   OP   WASHINGTON  AND  BRITISH   COLUMBIA.       305 

return  them  alive  to  the  water.  This  results  mainly  from  the  large 
size,  generally,  of  the  catches  and  the  difficulty  of  sorting  them  during 
the  operation  of  emptying  the  crib.  With  the  exception  of  some  of 
the  largest  forms,  it  is  customary  to  load  everything  on  scows  by 
means  of  large  dip  nets  or  by  reversing  the  crib  net,  after  which  the 
desirable  parts  of  the  catch  are  selected  out  and  the  remainder  thrown 
away — nearly  all  being  dead  by  this  time.  Experience  with  trap  nets 
in  other  regions  shows  that  some  discrimination  can  be  made  during 
the  progress  of  removal,  especially  when  the  species  to  be  saved  are 
large  and  easily  recognized,  as  is  the  caso  here,  but  in  so  doing  the 
work  is  much  prolonged  and  the  expense  increased.  In  a  new  region, 
so  rich  in  resources  as  the  one  in  question,  Tvhere  use  can  be  found  for 
only  the  choicer  products  and  competition  is  exceedingly  keen,  it  is 
questionable  whether  such  exacting  regulations  of  this  character  would 
be  either  wise  or  expedient  at  present.  In  fact,  regulations  looking 
to  the  release  alive  of  any  part  of  the  catch  of  trap  nets  seldom  con- ' 
template  in  any  region  the  assorting  of  the  catch  by  hand,  but  only 
the  escape  of  the  smaller  fish  through  proper  restrictions  upon  the  size 
of  the  mesh.  This  is  a  question  which  indeed  deserves  consideration 
in  connection  witli  the  traps  of  the  Puget  Sound  region. 

Among  the  species  said  to  be  destroyed  in  quantity  are  the  quinnat, 
when  off  color,  humpback  and  other  salmon,  sturgeon,  herring,  smelt, 
and  flounders.  As  it  is  not  possible  to  determine  the  color  of  the 
quinnat  until  it  has  been  cut,  there  seems  to  be  no  way  of  affording 
the  protection  which  it  equally  lacks  when  taken  by  other  methods. 
Dogfish,  which  are  sometimes  captured  in  large  numbers,  are  returned 
alive  to  the  water,  and  a  sale  is  springing  up  for  the  sturgeon,  though 
many  have  been  wasted  in  the  past. 

GILL  NETS. 

BRITISH   COLUMBIA. 

/ 

Gill  nets  are  the  principal  appliances  of  the  salmon  fishery  in  British 
Columbia,  but  in  Washington  they  are  less  important  than  the  traps 
and  seines.  In  Canadian  waters,  in  fact,  commercial  fishing  for  salmon 
with  nets  is  restricted  to  the  use  of  drift  gill  nets,  except  in  the  upper 
part  of  Boundary  Bay,  where  traps  have  been  allowed,  and  in  one 
or  two  northern  localities,  where  seining  is  permitted  because  of  the 
clearness  of  the  water.  The  drift-net  grounds  are  mostly  limited  to 
the  Fraser  River  and  the  adjacent  part  of  the  Gulf  of  Georgia,  where  the 
advantages  for  fishing  are  much  greater  than  in  any  other  section  of 
this  entire  region.  Not  only  does  this  river  and  its  approaches  have 
the  largest  runs  of  all  the  species  of  salmon,  but  duriug  the  most  impor- 
tant months  for  fishing  they  present  together  an  ex(;eediugly  large  area 
of  highly  discolored  water  in  which  gill  nets  may  be  used  as  etlectively 
in  tlie  daytime  as  at  night.  This  discoloration,  which  results  from  the 
floods  caused  by  the  melting  snows  among  the  mountains,  commences 
generally  about  the  middle  of  April  and  lasts  until  early  in  the  fall, 

irc99 — so 


806       BEPORT   OF   COMMISSIONER   OF   FISH   AND   FISHERIES. 


thns  covering  a  large  part  of  the  qninnat  ran  and  all  of  that  of  the 
Bockeye.  Before  it  becomes  Huffluiently  marked  to  obscure  the  nots,  the 
quinnat  fl8h«)ry  is  mostly  carried  on  at  night. 

This  drift  net  fishery  was  being  carried  on  in  a  small  way  as  early 
as  1875  at  least,  but  in  the  beginning  it  seems  to  have  been  entirely 
confined  within  the  river.  Finding,  however,  that  good  fishing  by  this 
means  could  be  obtained  ou1;Hide  the  delta,  the  fishermen  began  by  1885 
to  resort  to  the  ''sandheads"  ofi"  the  south  arm,  from  which  point  the 
area  of  their  operations  has  been  extend(^d  until  by  1891  it  reaithed 
as  far  ofilBhore  as  does  the  intensely  mnddy  water  of  the  Fraser. 
Wherever  this  condition  exists  the  sockeye  can  be  taken  in  drift  nets 
as  readily  and  in  as  great  abundance  as  in  the  river  itself.  This  exten- 
sion of  the  grounds  has  given  opportunity  for  a  greatly  increased  catch, 
and  has  caused  the  bulk  of  the  fishery  to  be  centered  within  a  radius 
of  G  or  8  miles  of  the  river  mouth,  upstream  in  one  direction  and  out 
in  the  Onlf  of  Georgia  in  the  other. 

Drift-net  fishing  in  the  Fraser  is  restricted  by  law  to  that  part  of  its 
conrse  which  is  iutluenced  by  the  tide,  the  upper  limit  being  placed 
at  Sumas  River,  between  50  and  60  miles  above  the  mouth  of  the  main 
river.  Comparatively  little,  however,  is  done  above  New  Westminster, 
though  there  are  in  this  upper  section  a  few  good  drifting-places 
during  high  water,  where  the  qninnat  are  taken  in  the  spring  and  the 
sockeye  in  July,  but  generally  in  August  the  river  becomes  so  low  as 
to  interfere  with  operations.  During  a  short  period  in  each  week  of 
July  and  August,  immediately  following  the  weekly  close  time,  drifting 
may  be  carried  on  largely  about  .New  Westminster  and  thence  down- 
stream, but  as  a  whole  by  far  tlie  greater  part  of  the  fishery  is  limited 
to  the  lower  6  to  8  miles  of  the  river  and  the  outside  grounds.  This 
is  explained  by  the  fact  that  the  current  is  not  so  strong  below,  there 
is  more  room  and  more  certainty  of  .^  sailing  breeze  upstream  to  renew 
the  drift,  and  competition  naturally  impels  the  fishermen  to  seek  the 
grounds  neai'est  tiO  where  the  fish  first  apfear,  in  their  efforts  to  secure 
some  advantage.  The  canneries  have  also  become  mainly  concentrated 
along  the  lower  part  of  the  river,  especially  in  the  vicinity  of  Ladner, 
and  at  8teveston,  where  they  are  convenient  to  the  fishing-grounds  now 
mostly  resorted  to.  Fishing  is  carried  on  in  all  three  branches  of  the 
delta,  the  main  channel,  the  North  Arm,  and  Canoe  Pass. 

Outside  the  river  there  are  no  legal  restrictions  upon  the  extent  of 
the  grounds,  their  limits  being  solely  defined  by  the  opportunities  for 
securing  fish.  As  explained  in  the  account  of  that  species,  the  sockeye 
assemble  in  front  of  the  delta,  coming  apinireutly  both  from  the  south 
and  west^and  occupying  a  considerable  area  both  on  and  off  the  edges 
of  the  bank  which  stretches  fruu.  Point  Grey  to  Point  Uoberts.  The 
discolored  water  permits  tlie  use  of  drift  nets  as  far  north  as  Point 
Grey,  as  far  south  as  the  boundary  line,  and  to  a  distance  of  at  least  5 
or  6  miles  offshore  in  the  direction  of  Vancouver  Island.  The  heaviest 
part  of  the  fishing  is  dose  off  the  main  entrance  and  Canoe  Pass, 


f 


FISHERIES   OF   WASHINGTON   AND   BRITISH    COLUMBIA.       307 


I; 


^^ 


f- 


toward  which  the  fish  are  working,  but  duriug  a  trip  from  the  delta  to 
Point  Roberts,  at  the  Iieight  of  the  Hoclieye  seaHon  in  1895,  the  boats 
were  observed  to  be  also  scattered  elsewhere  in  all  directions  as  far  as 
one  could  see,  to  near  the  boundary  line,  south  of  which  they  do  not 
go.  There  were  at  least  4U0  or  50U  boats  outside  on  that  occasion,  and 
the  scene  presented  was  one  of  great  animation.  While  the  nets  are 
set  with  reference  to  the  current,  they  soon  take  devious  courries,  and 
iu  places  were  so  close  together  that  the  tug  on  which  we  were  had 
diflSculty  in  picking  its  way  among  them. 

Owing  to  the  generally  unfavorable  weather  in  the  spring,  there  has 
been  practically  no  fishery  for  quinnat  on  the  outside  grounds  at  that 
season,  but  in  the  fall  this  species  may  be  taken  there  to  a  small  extent. 

The  length  of  the  drift  nets  in  British  Columbian  waters  is  limited  by 
law  to  150  fathoms,  and  the  most  of  those  in  use  are  probably  of  about 
that  size.  There  is  no  restriction  upon  their  depth,  but  custom  fixes 
it  at  50  to  55  meshes,  though  some  are  narrower.  Two  sizes  of  mesh 
are  recognized  by  law.  The  larger,  intended  for  the  quinnat  salmon, 
measured  7f  inches  in  extension,  until  1897,  when  it  was  reduced  to  7 
inches,  and  may  be  used  from  March  1  to  September  15.  The  smaller, 
designed  for  the  sockeye,  silver  salmon,  etc.,  measures  5|  inches,  and 
may  legally  be  employed  from  July  1  to  August  25,  and  again  from 
September  25  to  October  31.  Between  September  15  and  25,  and 
between  November  1  and  March  1,  all  salmon  fishing  with  nets  is  pro- 
hibited. The  quinnat  nets  are  employed  mainly  in  the  spring  and  early 
summer,  but  also  to  some  extent  in  September,  when  the  quinnat  run  is 
smaller  and  the  fish  are  not  in  so  good  condition.  The  smaller  mesh  is 
used  mostly  during  July  and  August,  when  the  sockeye  are  present 
and  the  canneries  are  iu  active  operation.  Theclo.se  season,  beginning 
August  25,  is  to  permit  the  last  of  the  sockeye  schools,  in  which  the 
fish  are  well  matured,  to  reach  their  spawning- grounds  unmolested.  The 
fall  season  of  the  small-meshed  nets  allows  for  the  capture  of  tlie  silver 
salmon,  but  the  fishery  at  that  time  is  not  extensive,  as  the  demand  for 
this  species  is  very  much  less  than  for  the  sockeye. 

The  twine  of  which  the  nets  are  made  is  of  the  best  flax,  but  being 
loosely  laid  has  a  very  coarse  appearance  compared  with  that  used  for 
gill  nets  in  the  Great  Lakes  and  elsewhere  in  the  East.  The  nets  con- 
structed of  it,  however,  are  said  to  be  better  adapted  to  the  large 
catches  of  heavy  fish  so  generally  obtained  on  the  Fraser  River, 
although  the  fine  hard  twine  is  best  for  clear  water.  The  cost  of  the 
nets  fully  rigged  is  about  $100  apiece.  They  are  lightly  tanned  and 
sometim'^s  a  little  tar  is  used  upon  them.  With  care  they  can  be  made 
to  last  t.  .ee  or  four  years,  but  with  the  ordinary  hired  fishermen  their 
life  is  generally  measured  by  a  single  season.  They  are  fitted  with 
lead  sinkers  and  wooden  floats.  The  buoys  are  sometimes  of  wood,  but 
square  tin  oil  cans  are  very  commonly  employed  for  this  purpose. 

The  boats  are  mostly  small  skiffs,  about  20  feet  long,  generally 
manned  by  two,  occasionally  by  three,  persons.    In  recent  years  the 


308       REPORT   OP   COMMISSIONER   OP   FISH   AND    FISHERIES. 

Oolumbia  Biver  boat  has  been  introduced  and  is  now  used  to  a  consid- 
erable extent  in  the  lower  part  of  the  river  and  outside.  Its  breadth 
and  centerboard  make  it  much  safer  for  the  more  exposed  places. 

All  gill  nets  in  British  Columbian  waters  are,  in  accordance  with 
law,  used  adrift.  This  method  appears  to  be  best  suited  to  most  of  the 
requirements  of  the  region  and  has  given  entire  satisfaction.  The  cur- 
rent in  the  Fraser  Biver  is  generally  too  strong  for  set  nets,  and  with 
the  large  number  of  nets  there  employed  only  the  one  method  of  Ash- 
ing them  would  be  advisable.  All  nets  are  drifted  at  the  surface,  each 
being  handled  by  a  single  boat,  to  which  it  is  attached  at  one  end,  the 
other  end  being  indicated  by  its  buoy. 

Up  to  1891,  inclusive,  the  number  of  drift  nets  in  use  was  limited  to 
500.  Since  then,  however,  licenses  have  been  issued  to  all  bona-flde 
fishermen,  British  citizens  and  residents,  who  make  application.  The 
canneries  and  other  establishments  dealing  in  salmon  are  allowed  sev- 
eral nets  apiece,  but  each  independent  fisherman  is  entitled  to  only  a 
single  net.  The  number  of  licenses  issued  and  the  total  length  of  the 
nets  employed  each  year  since  1891  have  been  as  follows : 


Year. 


1802. 
1893. 
1894. 


Num- 
ber of 
nets. 

Total 

length  of 

nets  in 

yards. 

721 
1,072 
1,6M 

252,  MO  ' 
385,900   , 
503,900    i 

1 

Tear. 


1895. 
1896. 
1897. 


Num- 
ber of 
nets. 


1,733 


Total 

length  of 

nets  in 

yards. 


528,000 
803, 801 
709,400 


To  insure  their  identification  the  boats  of  the  independent  fishermen 
must  be  marked  with  their  license  number,  but  canneries  and  dealers 
have  each  their  separate  series  of  numbers,  as  each  receive^only  a 
single  license  for  all  its  boats. 

A  varied  nationality  is  represented  among  the  drift-net  fishermen, 
including  Indians  and  negroes,  there  being  a  very  large  number  of  the 
former.  The  arrangements  with  them  dift'er.  Some  own  their  boats 
and  nets  and  dispose  of  their  catch  by  contract;  others  are  sui>pHed 
with  their  outfit  by  the  canneries  and  fish  on  shares,  while  others 
again,  the  Indians  especially,  are  employed  on  day  wages.  The  inde- 
pendent fisherman  in  possession  of  an  outfit  is  supposed  to  fish  it 
himself,  and  his  hours -are  measured  by  his  endurance.  The  canneries, 
however,  generally  hire  two  gangs  for  each  of  their  boats,  in  order  that 
they  may  be  kept  at  work  both  day  and  night.  The  licenses  do  not 
define  the  position  which  each  fisherman  may  occupy  with  his  drift  net. 
The  law  provides,  however,  that  the  nets  shall  be  kept  at  least  250 
yards  apart  and  shall  not  be  used  so  as  to  obstruct  more  than  one-third 
the  width  of  the  river,  but  it  has  been  manifestly  impossible  to  comply 
with  these  regulations — the  first,  especially — since  the  number  of  nets 
has  increased  so  greatly ;  and  the  second,  because  in  many  places  the 
width  of  the  river  is  less  than  three  times  the  length  of  the  nets. 

The  fishermen  are  left  to  arrange  these  matters  among  themselves, 
and  whether  they  do  so  by  tacit  understanding  or  not,  there  is  little  cr 


4- 


I 


FiaHEHIES    OF    WASHINGTON    AND    BRITISH    COLUMBIA.       309 

no  interference  among  them.  Each  selects,  no  far  as  he  can,  what  seems 
to  him  the  best  location,  and  may  change  it  from  time  to  time.  As  tlie 
nets  are  floating  no  fisherman  has  a  <!lear  piece  of  ground  to  liiinself, 
bat  they  follow  one  another  in  groups  over  the  same  ground,  and  move 
upstream  again  after  completing  their  drift  or  after  having  made  a 
certain  distance.  The  drifts  may  vary  from  1  to  IJ  or  3  miles,  and  sire 
sometimes  shorter,  dependent  u{Km  the  abundance  of  iish  and  other 
circumstances.  The  best  conditions  for  drifting  are  said  to  occur  at 
slack  high  water,  whether  at  night  or  in  the  daytime,  and  most  fishing 
is  done  at  that  stage  of  the  tide.  The  nets  then  hang  more  vertically 
and  it  is  the  general  opinion  that  there  is  also  then  a  better  movement 
of  the  fish.  When  the  river  is  high  and  swift  tliey  attempt  to  fish  more 
along  the  sides  and  in  the  eddies,  as  the  fish  seem  to  seek  the  places 
of  least  resistance,  but  when  it  falls  they  do  better  in  the  channels. 

The  nets  are  customarily  set  at  right  angles  to  the  current,  but  as  the 
velocity  of  the  latter  varies  at  different  points  across  the  channel  and 
eddiee  frequently  occur,  the  nets  do  not  long  remain  spread  out  in  the 
direction  intended,  but  take  irregular  courses  with  a  general  tendency 
to  trend  up  and  down  stream.  In  some  places,  where  bars  so  exist  as 
to  cause  the  fish  to  move  crosswise  of  the  river,  the  nets  may  do  best 
in  the  latter  position,  but,  as  a  rule,  they  are  not  allowed  to  Ircad  off 
much  before  lifting  begins.  On  the  outside  grounds  it  is  als»  the  prac- 
tice to  set  across  the  current,  and  some  of  the  most  successful  drifting 
is  there  done  by  starting  a  net  near  the  mouth  of  one  of  the  river  chan- 
nels and  allowing  it  to  be  carried  as  far  as  the  current  serves,  which 
may  be  a  long  way  when  the  river  is  in  flood. 

An  opportunity  for  studying  the  effect  upon  the  salmon  runs  of  the 
extensive  drift-net  fishing  now  carried  on  in  the  Fraser  River  is  afforded 
by  the  weekly  close  times,  but  practically  no  attention  has  been  given 
to  the  subject.  All  fishing  being  prohibited  from  6  o'clock  Saturday 
morning  until  the  same  hour  Sunday  evening,  the  salraou  are  given  an 
unobstructed  passageway  up  the  river  during  thirty-six  hours  out  of 
every  seven  days.  The  movement  of  the  fish  is  not,  of  course,  uniform 
or  even  continuous  throughout  the  season  or  any  extended  part  of  it. 
While,  therefore,  it  is  impossible,  without  the  necessary  observations, 
to  pass  definitely  upon  the  matter,  yet  at  the  end  of  each  weekly  close 
time  it  is  expected  that  a  proportionally  much  greater  quantity  cf 
fish  may  be  found  in  the  neighborho«)d  of  New  Westmin.ster  than  at 
other  periods  of  the  week.  On  Sunday  evening,  as  the  time  for  fishing 
reopens,  the  work  begins  actively  about  New  Westminster,  the  river 
being  covere<l  by  as  many  boats  as  can  safely  o^ierate,  and  the  catch  per 
net  being  as  good  as  at  least  the  average  on  tlie  lower  drifting-grounds. 
Such  success  does  not  continue  long,  and  during  the  remainder  of  the 
week  comparatively  few  boats  remain  on  the  upper  grounds. 

In  the  interest  of  the  protection  of  the  fish  it  would  be  important  to 
ascertain  what  proportion  of  the  run  is  removed  by  the  large  amount 
of  netting  used  on  the  Fraser  River  during  the  past  {v)\f  years.    Such 


310       REPORT  OP  COM1II88IONKB  OF   FI8H   AND   FIBHERIE8. 

information  as  we  possess  is  very  indefinite  at  the  best,  bat  the  evi- 
dence presented  by  the  circnuistances  attending  the  weekly  close  time 
arguen  strongly  ia  favor  of  the  continuance  of  that  protective  measure. 
In  illustration  of  this  matter  may  be  cited  the  catch  by  the  driftnetters 
during  the  night  of  Sunday,  August  16, 1805,  which  was  said  to  have 
exceeded  700,000  sookeye,  the  largest  single  night's  catch  on  record  up 
to  tliat  time  at  least. 

WAAniKOTON, 

Gill  nets  are  employed  in  both  the  salt  wat«rs  and  rivers  of  Wash- 
ington, but  much  less  extensively  than  in  British  Columbia.  Their 
UHe  extends  quite  largely  to  the  clear  open  waters,  where  they  are  only 
serviceable  at  night,  and  they  are  fished  both  set  and  drifting.  The 
fishery  is  for  the  most  part  somewhat  irregular,  and  aside  Arom  a  few 
localities  is  prosecuted  in  a  small  way  at  scattered  places,  much  of  the 
catch  being  disposed  of  locally,  although  a  good  part  of  the  fresh  supply, 
especially  of  quinnat,  sent  to  the  larger  markets,  such  us  Seattle,  Im  the 
product  of  this  class  of  nets. 

Skagit  Bay  and  River  seem  to  have  been  the  seat  of  the  most  impor- 
tant  operations  of  this  character.  About  50  nets  were  employed  on 
tiie  latter  in  1894,  35  belonging  to  white  men  and  15  to  Indians.  The 
set  nets  measured  15  fathoms  long  and  15  feet  deep,  some  having  a  5J 
and  others  a  9  inch  mesh ;  they  are  anchored  in  little  indentations  of  the 
river  bank  to  avoid  the  swift  current  as  much  as  jtossible.  The  drilt 
nets  were  50  fathoms  long  and  15  feet  deep,  with  a  9-inch  mesh,  being 
used  mostly  for  the  (luinnat.  The  nets  were  larger  on  the  bay,  some 
measuring  125  fathoms  long  and  18  feet  deep,  a  9- inch  mesh  being  used 
for  the  quinnat  and  a  5|  or  G  inch  mesh  for  the  sockeye  and  silver 
salmon.  Since  1895  there  has  been  a  large  increase  in  this  fishery, 
which  has  mainly  been  brought  about  by  the  establishment  of  new  can- 
neries, especially  at  Anacortes.  The  gill-uetters,  however,  have  had 
difficulty  in  competing  with  the  trap  nets,  which  afford  the  cheapest 
means  of  taking  salmon  here,  as  at  Point  Roberts,  and  in  1897  a  strong 
but  futile  effort  was  made  to  secure  the  passage  of  a  bill  prohibiting 
the  latter  class  of  apparatus. 

Boundary  Bay  is  another  relatively  important  place  for  gill-netting, 
and  in  other  places  about  the  shores,  as  well  as  in  many  of  the  rivers, 
this  method  is  also  followed,  the  extent  of  fishing  varying  in  accord- 
ance with  the  opportunities  and  the  demands.  In  some  places  only 
two  or  three  small  nets  may  be  employed  to  supply  the  local  wants, 
while  in  others  the  advantages  for  shipping  or  canning  interests  may 
stimulate  a  considerable  activity.  Even  iu  such  small  rivers  as  the 
Elwha  and  Dungeness,  on  the  south  side  of  the  Strait  of  Juan  de  Fuca, 
having  only  2  or  3  miles  of  level  course,  several  nets  may  be  in  use,  and 
such  fish  as  are  not  required  at  home  find  their  way  to  the  Seattle 
market. 


FISHERIES   OF    WASHINGTON    AND    BRITISH    COLUMBIA.       311 

PURSB  SEINES. 

The  parse  seine  is,  next  after  the  trup  not,  the  most  important  ap]>li- 
anoe  U8e<l  for  the  capture  of  salmon  in  the  United  States  waters,  wliere 
it  is  said  to  have  been  introdnced  about  1886.  It  resembles  the  purse 
seine  of  the  Atlantic  coast,  bat  differs  from  it  in  some  particulars. 
Its  oonstraction  and  mode  of  use  have  been  described  in  the  Bulletin 
of  the  United  States  Fish  Commission  for  1888  (pp.  65,56),  and  in  the 
annual  report  of  that  Commission  for  the  same  year  (pp.  254-250). 
The  nets  are  very  larjje  and  therefore  of  great  capacity,  the  catch  often 
amounting  to  several  thousand  salmon  at  a  single  haul.  In  those 
whose  measurements  have  been  brought  to  our  attention  the  length 
varies  from  150  to  250  fathoms  and  the  depth  from  14  to  25  fathoms  in 
the  bunt.  Tlie  mesh  is  from  2^  to  3  inches.  Two  boats  are  required 
for  o^ierating  a  pursfe  seine — one  for  setting  the  net,  the  other,  a  scow, 
for  pursing  it,  the  latter  also  having  accommodations  for  the  catch. 

Purse  seines  seem  nut  to  be  well  adapted  for  taking  the  sockeye, 
which  are  apparently  too  alert  and  active  to  be  readily  captured  by  this 
means,  although  small  quantities  may  sometimes  be  so  obtained.  They 
api)ear  to  be  employed  mainly  for  the  silver  salmon,  but  also  to  some 
extent  for  humpbacks  and  dog  salmon.  It  is  the  only  kind  of  appara- 
tus, aside  from  hooks  and  lines,  that  can  be  utilized  in  the  open  waters 
at  a  distance  from  the  shores,  and  as  the  salmon  of  certain  species  may 
school  anywhere  it  is  destined  to  remain  one  of  the  most  im|)ortant 
fishing  methods,  especially  for  supplying  the  large  catches  demanded 
by  the  canneries. 

.  Tlie  most  important  fishery  with  these  nct»,  having  its  principal  head- 
quarters at  Seattle,  has  been  carried  on  throughout  the  upper  part  of 
Puget  Sound  tvom  the  vicinity  of  Everett  to  Commencement  Bay,  and 
to  some  extent  in  Hood's  Canal.  In  1895  Seattle  had  at  least  11  purse 
seines  in  use,  and  in  189U  probably  not  less  than  20.  Keeping  track  of 
the  schooling  fish,  many  of  the  nets  are  often  concentrated  in  a  single 
place,  covering  the  water  over  a  considerable  area  and  making  large 
catches.  Although  chiefly  operated  in  the  interest  of  canneries,  the 
fresh  and  salt  markets  also  obtain  abundant  supplies  from  this  source. 
Single  seine  hauls  in  the  upper  part  of  the  sound  frequently  exceed 
1,500,  and  may  reach  over  2,:')00  silver  sa'tmon.  The  catch  of  the  gang 
of  nets  belonging  to  the  Seattle  cannery  is  said  to  hav«  averaged  12,000 
salmon  daily  during  the  height  of  the  season  of  1895. 

In  other  parts  of  the  region  purse  seines  have  not  been  as  systemat- 
ically employed.  Some  have  been  used  about  the  San  Juan  Islands, 
and  in  1895  they  were  first  tried  in  the  Strait  of  Juan  de  Fuca,  with  the 
object  of  obtaining  supplies  for  the  cannery  established  that  year  at 
Port  Angeles.  The  fishing  ground  was  mainly  in  the  vicinity  of  that 
place,  but  sets  were  also  made  near  Biice  Bocks  and  elsewhere  in  the 
eastern  part  of  the  strait.  About  Point  Boberts  a  few  purse  seines 
seem  to  have  been  operated  nearly  every  year  since  their  introduction, 


812        REPORT   OF   COMMISSIONER   OP   PISH   AND    FI8HERIK8. 

bat  not  with  auy  regularity,  and  bh  »  whole  these  nets  may  be  said  to 
have  cat  a  stnall  flgare  in  connection  with  the  flsherieH  of  thut  region. 
This  has  been  especially  so  since  the  rapid  increase  in  the  number  and 
efficiency  of  the  traps  began.  In  1893  and  1804,  when  three  or  four 
were  in  use,  they  did  very  well,  and  in  the  latter  year  a  good  pro^iortiou 
of  the  cannery  supplies  at  Point  Roberts  were  so  obtained.  In  1895, 
however,  the  catch  by  this  means  was  reported  very  small,  as  the  traps 
furnished  sufficient  quantities  of  sockeye  from  day  to  day  to  supply  the 
canneries  and  no  silver  salmon  were  canned. 

The  total  number  of  purse  seinCB  rsportod  for  ^he  I'uget  Sound  region 
hi  1897  was  46,  and  in  1898  it  vas  40. 

VBAO  SEINES. 

Although  drag  seines  were  sometimes  employed  on  a  small  scale  in 
connection  with  the  early  fishery  of  the  Fraser  River  district,  they  have 
been  entirely  prohibited  for  a  considerable  period  throughout  British 
Columbia,  except  in  certain  localities  outside  the  region  under  discus- 
sion, where  the  water  is  too  clear  for  gill-netting.  In  Washington  they 
seem  to  have  been  the  earliest  form  of  net  introduced  by  the  whites, 
and  they  are  still  widely  used,  though  not  very  extensively  in  any  one 
place.  Their  first  employment  to  any  extent  was  apparently  at  Point 
Roberts,  where  the  trai)s  have  virtually  superseded  them.  They  were 
there  hauled  mainly  around  the  southwest  corner  of  the  point,  and 
Whence  up  along  the  west  side  to  a  distance  of  1^  miles,  the  shore  else- 
where being  generally  nnsuited  for  the  purpose.  When  rounding  the 
southwest  corner  a  part  of  the  salmon  keep  well  in  to  the  shore,  y^t 
large  catches  of  sockeye  were  never  made  there,  and  if  ;i()0  or  400  fish 
were  captured  at  a  haul  it  was  considered  a  fair  result.  In  the  early 
fall,  however,  the  silver  salmon  would  be  taken  in  greater  numbers. 
As  the  traps  multiplied  and  were  made  effective  the  seines  gradually 
went  out  of  use,  though  they  may  still  be  employed  occasionally. 

The  most  important  recent  drag-seine  fishery  seems  to  be  that  which 
has  now  been  carried  on  for  a  number  of  years  to  obtain  salmon  for 
canning  purposes  at  Seattle.  Eight  nets,  measuring  from  200  to  600 
feet  long  and  with  a  3-inch  mesh,  were  in  use  in  that  connection  in 
1895.  Near  the  mouth  of  the  Skagit  River  6  seines  were  operated  in 
1894,  2  by  the  whites  and  4  by  the  Indians.  The  former  were  about 
600  feet  long  by  30  feet  deep;  the  latter  180  feet  long  by  10  feet  deep, 
both  having  a  3-inch  mesh.  Seining  is  also  done  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Utsalady,  in  Skagit  Bay,  and  in  both  of  these  localities  relatively 
large  catches  are  said  to  be  made.  Good  seiuinggrounds  are  reporter 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  mouth  of  the  Nooksack  River,  though  they  had 
not  been  much  resorted  to  up  to  1895. 

Small  seines  are  employed  to  some  extent  for  salmon,  by  both  whites 
and  Indians,  at  several  places  along  the  south  shore  of  the  Strait  of 
Juan  de  Fuca,  chiefly  in  Discovery  Bay  and  about  Dungeness  and  Point 
Angeles.    Nearly  all  the  catch  is  consumed  locally,  but  small  quantities 


.. 


X 


FISHERIES  OF   WARHINGTON   AND    BRITIBU    COLUMBIA.       SI 3 

may  be  carried  to  market  as  far  east  uh  Port  TowiiHend.  The  Rpeoies 
principally  obtained  are  huni])backa  and  silver  salmon.  The  cannery 
established  at  Port  Angeles  in  1805  had  12  seines  in  use  in  that  vicinity 
the  same  year. 

Small  seines  will  undoubtedly  be  found  elsewhere  in  nearly  all  places 
along  the  Washington  shore  where  settleiiieuta  Qy\y\  and  where  the 
conditions  are  suitable  for  taking  salmon  by  this  nn"  >d.  This  form 
of  net  is  one  of  the  most  convenient  to  operate  and  tiHords  a  ready 
means  for  securing  food. 

The  total  number  of  seines  employed  in  the  I'uget  Bound  region  in 
both  1?:  -  ;^,ld  1898  was  placed  at  59. 

BSEF  NETS. 

The  reef  net  is  the  exclusive  property  of  the  Indians,  by  whom  it  has 
long  been  used.  Its  name  is  derived  from  the  character  of  sea  bottom 
for  which  it  is  specially  adapted — the  peculiar  kelp  covered  reefs — but 
while  such  abound  throughout  the  region,  the  number  over  which  the 
sockeye  pass  in  sufficient  quantity  to  furnish  good  flsliing  seems  to  be 
comparatively  small.  Formerly  the  nets  were  made  from  the  fiber  of 
cedar  bark  or' roots,  the  preparation  of  which  was  a  winter  occupation 
and  consumed  much  time.  Cotton  twine  is  now  used  and  since  its 
introduction  the  nets  have  been  enlarged.  They  consist  of  a  piece  of 
webbing,  which  varies  more  or  less  in  size,  but  may  average  perhaps 
from  36  to  40  feet  long  by  25  to  30  feet  across,  the  mesh  being  about  S^ 
inches. 

To  prepare  for  fishing  a  channel  of  suitable  width  is  cut* through  the 
kelp,  and  in  this  the  net  is  set  between  two  canoes  so  anchored  from 
both  ends  as  to  keep  them  parallel  with  and  at  the  sides  of  the  passage- 
way. The  suspension  of  the  net  is  accomplished  by  means  of  guy  lines 
leading  from  the  canoes  and  head  anchors.  In  the  position  which  it 
then  assumes  the  front  end,  facing  the  current,  sinks  near  the  bottom, 
while  the  hind  end  curves  to  near  the  surface.  Although  the  kelp 
may  be  quite  submerged  along  the  sides  of  the  channel,  still  it  tends  to 
direct  the  fish  toward  the  net,  and  their  movements  may  still  further 
be  controlled  by  short  leads  of  kelp  run  out  /r^'n  the  front  corners  of 
the  latter.  In  case  the  depth  of  water  is  too  great,  ropes  are  sometimes 
sti'etched  across  the  channel  below  tlie  front  margin  of  the  net,  and  to 
these  bunches  of  reeds  may  be  attached  with  the  object  of  turning  the 
fleh  upward. 

The  salmon,  approaching  with  the  current,  pass  upon  the  net.  They 
do  not  mesh,  nor  is  there  anything  to  prevent  their  escaping  at  the 
sides.  It  is  at  tlii.s  point  that  the  Indians  are  required  to  display  their 
skill  An  experienced  man  stands  in  the  bow  of  each  canoe  as  a  look- 
out, while  each  of  the  guy  lines  is  in  the  hands  of  a  member  of  the  crew. 
The  moment  fish  are  seen  coming  over  the  net  word  is  given  to  haul 
in,  a  command  which  must  be  promptly  obeyed.  The  side  lines  leading 
to  the  stern  anchors  are  tripi>ed  at  the  same  time,  causing  the  lioats 


314       REPORT   OF   COMMISSIONER   OF    FISH    AND    FISHERIES. 


to  come  together,  so  that  the  net  can  be  gathered  up  from  all  sides  in  a 
sort  of  bag.  The  contents  are  emptied  into  the  canoes,  the  net  is  again 
thrown  over  and  spread  out,  and  the  watching  resumed.  Success 
depends  upon  the  net  being  hauled  quickly  and  properly  at  the  right 
moment.  Should  the  fish  have  turned  before  the  first  step  is  taken, 
they  are  likely  to  escape  wholly  or  in  greater  part.  Constant  vigilance 
is  required,  but  the  Indians  have  become  so  expert  that  they  seldom 
fail  to  land  their  catch,  and  their  success  seems  to  depend  only  on  the 
appearance  of  the  fish  in  sufficient  quantity. 

When  the  fish  are  running  well  a  large  reef-net  crew  will  consist  of 
10  to  15  Indians,  as  at  Point  lioberts,  but  in  some  i)laces  the  nets 
are  smaller  and  the  crew  may  not  contain  more  than  G  to  8  men.  On 
Cannery  Point  Beef  it  is  said  that  under  exceptionally  favorable  condi- 
tions a  haul  can  be  made  every  2  or  3  minutes,  and  a  single  large  catch 
may  fill  the  two  canoes.  With  fishing  at  its  best  a  single  net  may 
secure  as  many  as  2,000  salmon  in  a  day,  but  to  do  this  the  fishing 
canoes  must  continue  at  their  posts,  the  catch  being  transferred  to  shore 
by  other  boats.  In  1894  and  1895,  however,  scarcely  anything  was 
accomplished  with  the  reef  nets  in  this  locality. 

The  proper  time  for  fishing  with  these  nets  is  during  the  set  of  both 
the  ebb  and  flood  tide,  when  the  current  is  running  not  swifter  than  5 
knots  an  hour.  They  can  only  be  used  in  clear  water,  as  it  is  essential 
that  the  salmon  should  be  plainly  seen ;  when  the  water  is  muddy  or 
the  surface  rough  nothing  can  be  done.  While  originally  the  Indians 
employed  this  method  only  for  a  short  period  each  season  to  supply 
their  own  wants,  in  recent  years  they  have  found  a  ready  sale  for  their 
entire  catch,  which,  consisting  as  it  does  mainly  of  sockeye,  is  in  great 
demand  at  the  canneries.  The  money  value  of  this  species  is  now  so 
great  that  they  retain  only  small  quantities  at  the  most  for  drying. 
Reefnet  fishing  could  not,  however,  be  profitably  followed  by  the 
whites,  owing  to  the  number  of  hands  required  to  operate  the  net  and 
the  great  loss  of  time  resulting  from  unfavorable  conditions  of  sea  and 
weather.  The  Indian  reef-netters  belong  partly  to  the  Lumrai  Reserva- 
tion and  partly  to  British  Columbia.  The  latter  lish  chiefly  about  the 
San  Juan  Islands,  coming  over  specially  for  that  purpose. 

What  is  probably  the  largest  and  has  been  the  most  productive 
ground  in  the  region  for  this  kind  of  fishing  is  the  reef  directly  south  of 
Cannery  Point,  at  Point  Roberts,  which  1ias  been  described  in  another 
connection.  From  15  to  20  nets  were  formerly  fished  here  at  a  time, 
and  with  much  success;  IG  were  ir»  operation  in  1889,  but  in  1894  the 
access  of  salmon  to  the  reef  had  been  so  cut  ofi'  by  strings  of  trap  nets 
as  practically  to  destroy  its  advantages,  although  the  Indians  still  visit 
it.  Each  crew  had  formerly  two  places  to  fish  upon,  one  for  high  and 
one  for  low  water,  in  order  to  extend  the  hours  of  work,  it  being  con- 
sidered preferable  that  the  water  should  not  exceed  8  feet  in  depth  at 
the  time  of  fishing. 


„ 


FISHERIES   OP   WASHINGTON   AND    BRITISH   COLUMBIA.       315 

Between  Village  Point  and  Bluff  Point,  on  the  outer  side  of  Lummi 
Island,  there  is  also  an  excellent  ground,  with  capacity  for  about  6  or  7 
reef  nets,  which  is  resorted  to  by  the  Indians  from  the  neighboritig 
reservation.  Salmon  have  been  abundant  here  and  large  catches  have 
been  made,  but,  as  at  Cannery  Point,  trap  nets  have  recently  been  so 
placed  as  to  divert  a  large  proportion  of  the  fish  from  the  reef  and 
reduce  its  value  for  the  purposes  of  the  Indians. 

There  is  a  small  but  productive  reef  inside  of  Iceberg  Point,  at  the 
southern  end  of  Lopez  Island,  on  which  a  few  nets  are  used,  and 
where  daily  catches  of  3,000  to  4,000  salmon  are  sometimes  made. 
Both  sockeye  and  silver  salmon  are  taken  at  this  place,  the  former  at 
least  being  now  mostly  sold  to  the  cannery  at  Friday  Harbor,  and  in 
good  seasons  the  reef  is  an  important  source  of  supply.  The  nets  are 
sometimes  set  iu  an  extreme  depth  of  18  fathoms.  We  were  told  by 
some  of  the  Indians  Ashing  here  that  although  they  have  tried  for 
quinnat  they  have  never  been  successful  with  that  species,  probably 
because  it  does  not  appear  in  defined  schools.  Humpbacks  and  dog 
salmon  occur  abundantly,  but  are  not  fished  for,  as  they  have  no  sale. 
There  seem  to  be  no  other  reef-net  grounds  about  Lopez  Island,  but 
sevei^al  small  ones  are  fished  off  the  west  side  of  San  Juan  Island  and 
off  both  the  east  and  west  sides  of  Stuart  Island.  Others  probably 
exist,  of  which  we  obtained  no  definite  information. 

HOOK-AND-LINE   FISHING. 


The  quinnat  and  silver  salmon  are  the  only  species  which  will  take 
bait  and  can  be  fished  for  with  a  hook.  The  fishery  by  this  means, 
trolling  with  bait  or  spoon,  is  insignificant  compared  with  the  net  fish- 
ery, but  it  affords  the  opportunity  for  securing  especially  the  quinnat 
in  the  winter  and  spring  when  nets  can  not  be  used  profitably  if  at  all. 
The  catch  so  made  is  disposed  of  to  the  fresh  markets  or  utilized  for 
domestic  purposes  by  the  fishermen.  Both  Indians  and  whites  engage 
in  it,jthe  fornner  most  extensively.  Some  of  the  more  prominent  local- 
ities for  this  fishery  are  off  Victoria  and  Port  Townsend,  about  the  San 
Juan  Islands,  off  Kanaimo,  and  off'  Point  Boberts,  and  in  some  places 
it  is  indulged  in  for  sport  as  well  as  for  securing  food. 

Sport  fishing  for  salmon  with  fly  and  spoon  is  carried  on  to  a  limited 
extent  in  some  of  the  smaller  clear  rivers,  especially  in  British  Colum- 
bia. The  quinnat  is  said  to  be  the  only  species  which  can  be  so  taken, 
and  the  fishing-places  are  the  pools  in  which  they  rest  during  their 
journey  upstream.  Trout  are  also  very  abundant  in  such  localities 
and  are  obtained  by  the  same  means.  The  Indians  about  'Seah  Bay 
do  a  great  leal  of  trolling  for  salmon  to  supply  their  own  wants,  the 
fishes  of  this  group  following  next  after  the  halibut  iu  importance  as 
an  article  of  food  among  them.  The  fishing  season  there  is  chiefly  the 
months  of  June,  July,  and  August.  Details  regarding  the  hook-and- 
line  fishery  have  already  been  given  under  the  headings  of  the  quinnat 
and  silver  salmon. 


316       REPOBT  OF  COMMISSIONER   OF   FISH   AND  FISHERIES. 

SPBAB8. 

Spears  seem  to  be  used  rather  extensively,  in  the  clear,  shallow  npper 
waters  of  many  of  the  rivers,  for  obtaining  salmon  as  they  approach 
their  spawning-grounds.  The  flsh  so  taken  are,  naturally,  not  in  the 
best  condition  for  food,  nor  are  they  soaght  by  this  means  for  com- 
mercial purposes,  unless  it  be  to  supply  a  local  demand.  The  Indians 
follow  this  method  most,  but  white  settlers  also  employ  it  where  they 
have  the  opportunity  to  do  so,  and  often  in  this  way  add  greatly  to 
their  stock  of  food.  In  some  localities  the  catch  must  be  relatively 
rather  large,  as  is  known  to  be  the  case  in  the  upper  waters  of  the 
Skagit  Biver.  Besides  the  ordinary  form  of  spear,  a  gaff  is  also  fre- 
quently employed,  the  handle  to  either  one  being  sometimes  made  of 
extra  length  to  permit  of  its  being  used  from  the  banks  of  a  stream. 
Under  favorable  circumstances  it  is  said  to  be  x>ossible  to  select  from 
the  fish,  as  they  pass  by,  the  particular  species  that  is  most  desired  or 
the  more  robust  and  healthy  individuals. 


DISPOSITION  OF  THE   SALMON  CATCH. 

Until  quite  recently  this  region  has  occupied,  from  the  standpoint  of 
trade,  a  position  of  comparative  isolation  which  the  completion  of 
railroads  has  only  partly  overcome,  owing  tj  its  distance  from  large 
consuming  centers.  In  the  development  of  tlie  salmon  fishery  and  the 
disposition  of  the  catch  it  has,  therefore,  boen  necessary  to  resort  to 
methods  of  preparation  which  would  insure  the  preservation  of  the 
product  for  indefinite  periods.  Salting  naturally  came  first,  followed 
by  canning,  while  now  the  shipping  of  fresh  salmon  is  a  rapidly  growing 
business. 

The  salting  process  was  introduced  at  the  beginning  of  the  century 
by  the  Northwest  Company  and  afterwards  continued  by  the  Hudson 
Bay  Company,  primarily  for  the  purpose  of  providing  a  winter  stock 
for  the  use  of  their  employees  and  for  local  sale.  As  the  facilities  for 
shipping  opened  up,  an  export  trade  began,  which  finally  reached  large 
proportions  and  ^:as  long  constituted  an  important  feature  of  the  salmon 
industry  on  both  sides  of  the  boundary  line.  Requiring  little  outfit, 
this  branch  has  beeit  engaged  in  by  men  of  small  means  as  well  as  by 
establishments  having  considerable  capital.  Wliile  both  the  quinnat 
and  sockeye  are  utilized  in  this  way,  the  greater  part  of  the  output 
consists  of  the  cheaper  grades  of  salmon.  The  product  is  mostly  dis- 
posed of  to  the  eastern  United  States  and  to  Australia,  the  Hawaiian 
Islands,  China,  and  Japan. 

The  smoking  of  salmon  was  also  begun  in  British  Columbia  at  an 
early  date  and  was  subsequently  taken  up  in  Washington,  but  the 
quantity  prepared  in  this  way  has  always  been  small. 

Canning  presented  a  somewhat  more  refined  method  of  preparation, 
the  product  of  whirh  soon  gained  great  and  world-wide  popularity. 
The  growth  of  this  particular  branch  of  the  fishery  was  quite  rapid 


•■■■■■ 


FISHERIES   OP  WASHINGTON  AND   BRITISH  COLUMBIA.       317 


upper 
»roach 
ill  the 
com- 
Ddiaiis 
e  they 
atly  to 
itively 
of  the 
so  fre- 
lade  of 
;ream. 
from 
"ired  or 


I 


from  the  beginning,  and  during  the  past  few  years  has  been  remark- 
able. Its  limitations  are  measurable  only  by  the  suppiy  of  fish  and  the 
restrictions  of  trade. 

The  utilization  of  the  salmon  from  this  region  in  a  fresh  condition, 
except  locally,  was  long  delayed,  owing  to  the  lack  of  transportation 
facilities  to  large  markets,  of  which  there  are  none  in  proximity  to  the 
Pacific  coast.  The  preference  for  fresh  fish,  however,  led  to  the  early 
utilization  of  through  railroad  communication  to  place  the  western 
species  in  competition  with  their  Atlantic  congener  in  the  very  home 
of  the  latter.  This  trade  is  now  having  a  marvelous  development.  It 
reaches  the  larger  cities  along  the  Atlantic  seaboard  and  in  the  interior 
of  the  country,  and  has  recently  found  an  outlet  in  Europe  and  other 
parts  of  the  world.  Shipments  have  chiefly  been  made  during  winter 
and  spring  when  the  salmon  are  in  best  condition  and  the  weather  is 
most  propitious.  Ice  is  used  in  packing  to  the  extent  made  necessary  by 
temperature  and  other  conditions,  and  freezing  methods  have  recently 
been  introduced. 

The  quinuat  is  preferred  for  the  fresh  trade,  and  in  the  spring,  before 
the  Atlantic  salmon  are  in  season,  it  commands  so  high  a  price  as  to 
make  its  purchase  for  canning  purposes  unwarranted.  The  steelhead 
is  also  a  fresh-market  fish  and  is  sold  almost  exclusively  as  such,  it 
being  obtained  most  abundantly  in  the  best  condition  during  the  winter, 
when  the  fewest  difficulties  attend  its  shipment.  The  sockeye  and  6ther 
species  are  likewise  utilized  in  this  trade,  but  the  latter  least  extensively 
on  account  of  their  lighter  color. 

The  most  important  centers  for  the  shipping  of  fresh  salmon  are  New 
Westminster,  in  British  Columbia,  and  Seattle,  in  Washington,  but  small 
quantities  may  be  sent  inland  directly  from  a  few  other  places,  more 
especially  from  Tacoma.  The  bulk  of  the  fish  intended  for  this  trade, 
however,  is  forwarded  to  one  or  the  other  of  these  cities  from  fishing- 
grounds  or  from  collecting  places  on  steamer  routes.  Thus  Seattle  may 
derive  its  supplies  of  quinnat  from  the  Strait  of  Juan  de  Fuca  by  way 
of  Port  Townsend,  from  the  San  Juan  Islands  through  the  several 
stopping- places  which  the  steamers  have  in  that  group,  from  Skagit 
Bay  and  Eiver,  and  so  on,  the  entire  field  tributary  to  Seattle  being  an 
extensive  one.  The  New  Westminster  supplies  come  partly  from  the 
Gulf  of  Georgia,  but  mainly  from  the  Fraser  River. 

The  freezing  of  salmon  seems  to  have  be3n  started  on  the  Fraser 
Kiver  as  early  as  1886,  but  not  much  was  apparently  done  in  that  line 
until  within  a  few  years.  There  are  now  several  freezing  establishments 
in  British  Columbia  and  Washington,  and  the  business  outlook  is 
exceeding' .  promising.  By  this  method  not  only  may  a  large  stock  of 
fish  be  laid  in  when  the  season  serves  best,  to  be  disposed  of  as  demands 
arise,  but  a  way  is  opened  to  new  and  more  distant  markets.  The 
prospects  are  for  a  large  and  profitable  trade  which  shall  greatly 
increase  the  fishing  industry  of  the  region. 


318       BEPOBT   OF   COMMISBIONEB   OF   FISH   AND    FISHEBIE8. 

The  local  trade  in  salmon  is  relatively  large  in  comparison  with  the 
extent  of  population,  the  low  price  at  which  they  can  generally  be 
obtained,  especially  the  least  desirable  commercial  forms,  placing  them 
within  the  reach  of  all.  Many  of  the  inhabitants  fl^h  for  their  own 
table,  using  nets  and  spears  in  the  rivers  and  the  trolling  hook  in  salt 
water.  The  Indians  have  always  depended  very  largely  on  the  salmon, 
one  of  their  chief  occupations  having  been  the  preparation  of  a  large 
winter  stock  by  drying.  In  some  places,  where  they  have  come  mnck 
in  contact  with  the  whites  and  are  receiving  pay  for  their  labor  or 
catch,  this  cnstom  is  not  so  strictly  followed,  if  at  all,  bat  the  total 
Indian  consumption  in  British  Columbia  is  estimated  in  the  official 
statistics  at  a  very  high  figure. 

CANNEBIES. 

In  that  part  of  British  Columbia  here  under  consideration  the  can- 
ning industry  seems  always  to  have  been  confined  to  the  Fraser  Biver, 
for  the  reasons  undoubtedly  tliat  it  is  the  only  place  where  the  sockeye 
can  be  taken  abundantly  and  where  the  other  species  of  salmon  may 
also  be  captured  more  readily  than  elsewhere.  The  first  cannery  on  the 
Fraser  was  apparently  built  at  Brownsville,  opposite  New  Westmin- 
ster, about  1870  oi  1871.  It  was  removed  to  New  Westminster  in 
1873  and  one  or  more  small  ones  in  addition  are  said  to  have  been  in 
ox>eration  the  same  year,  when  the  total  output  of  canned  goods  was 
reported  at  about  390,000  pounds.  The  regular  Series  of  statistics  for 
the  British  Columbian  coast  date  from  1876,  wh  -in  there  were  3  can- 
neries with  a  total  pack  of  511,056  pounds.  In  1883  the  number  had 
increased  to  12,  but  it  fell  off  the  following  year  to  6,  and  was  the  same 
in  1885.  Since  then,  however,  there  has  been  a  steady  and  rapid 
increase,  their  number  amounting  to  31  in  1895  and  to  45  in  1898. 

Changes  have  taken  place  in  the  location  of  the  canneries,  which  are 
interesting  to  note.  The  industry  was  formerly  carried  on  more  exten- 
sively in  the  upper  part  of  the  drift-net  region,  there  having  been  at 
one  time  as  many  as  4  canneries  in  the  neighborhood  of  New  West- 
minster, where  now  there  is  only  1.  The  center  of  t'iie  canning  business 
has  worked  down  the  river,  as  the  fishing  has  been  carried  more  and 
more  in  that  di  ^-ection.  Laducr  and  Canoe  Faes  became  the  centers 
for  a  time,  but  it  has  now  been  transferred  to  Steveston,  at  the  maia 
entrance  to  the  river,  where  in  1895  about  one-half  the  total  number  of 
canneries  was  located.  This  place  is  now  most  centrally  situated  with 
regard  to  the  more  productive  fisheries,  having  on  one  side  those  of  the 
outer  g^nnds  and  on  the  other  those  in  the  lower  part  of  the  river.  In 
1895  there  were  only  6  canneries  above  the  village  of  Ladner,  15  at 
Steveston,  the  remainder  being  on  the  south  bank  from  Ladner  to 
Canoe  Pass.  The  number  of  canneries  on  the  Fraser  Biver,  together 
with  the  pack  in  each  year  since  the  beginning  of  the  industry,  is 
given  in  the  statistical  table  for  British  Columbia. 


I 


FISHERIES   OF   WASHINGTON   AND   BRITISH   COLUMBIA.       319 


th  the 
lly  be 
;  them 
r  own 
n  salt 
ilmon, 

large 
much 
Dor  or 

total 
official 


-f 


Outside  of  the  Fraser  Biver  the  principal  caimery  sites  in  British 
Columbia  are  on  the  Skeena  Biver,  where  the  business  was  started  as 
early  as  1875,  and  on  the  Naas  Biver.  There  has  been  a  small  cannery 
at  Alert  Bay  since  188U,  drawing  its  supitlies  of  sockeye  from  the 
I^imkish  Biver,  which  empties  on  the  adjacent  coast  of  Vancouver 
Island,  and  2  are  located  on  Olayoquot  Sound,  western  coast  of  Van- 
couver Island,  one  established  in  1895,  the  other  in  1896.  Except  during 
three  years  when  the  sockeye  runs  were  very  small, 'the  Fraser  Biver 
pack  has  exceeded,  and  generally  very  greatly,  the  combined  pack  of 
all  the  other  canneries  of  the  Province. 

The  greater  part  of  the  canned  salmon  produced  in  British  Columbia 
has  always  been  exported  to  England,  being  shipped  by  vessel,  gener- 
ally in  large  lots.  The  remainder  is  divided  between  Australia,  other 
foreign  markets,  and  the  Canadian  trade. 

The  canning  industry  is  of  more  recent  date  in  the  Puget  Sound 
region  of  Washing^n  than  in  British  Columbia,  and  is  still  less 
extensive,  although  during  the  past  few  years  its  growth  has  been 
very  rapid.  Not  having  the  same  river  facilities  as  British  Columbia, 
it  is  necessary  to  look  more  to  the  salt  waters  for  its  supplies,  and  in 
the  matter  of  obtaining  sockeye,  the  species  most  cherished  for  canning 
purposes,  its  advantages  are  considered  not  so  good.  It  would  thus 
appear  as  though  Washington  could  never  expect  to  produce  as  large  a 
pack  of  the  higher -priced  fish  as  the  Fraser  Biver  is  capableof  supplying, 
though  it  may  prove  otherwise,  but  of  the  inferior  species  Washington 
has  sufftcient  abundaace  to  permit  as  great  an  expansion  of  the  business 
as  the  demands  of  trade  are  likely  to  warrant  for  some  years  to  come. 

In  1895  there  were  only  6  canneries  in  operation  on  the  Washington 
e  '  of  the  line.  The  oldest  establishment  was  started  at  Muckilteo 
in  1877,  removed  to  Port  Blakely  about  1880,  and  subsequently  to 
Seattle,  where  it  is  now  located.  The  species  put  up  are  silver,  hump- 
back, and  dog  salmon,  together  with  a  few  quinnat  when  they  can  be 
obtained.  In  1880,  15  bauds  were  employed  and  the  pack  amounted 
to  10,000  cases,  while  in  1895  the  pack  reached  81,177  cases.  At  one 
time  there  were  4  canneries  in  the  neighborhood  of  Seattle,  but  3  of 
these  are  no  longer  in  operation,  although  a  new  one  was  established 
there  in  1897.  The  next  oldest  cannery  still  in  existence  is  the  one 
established  in  1891  at  Semiahmoo,  at  the  eastern  end  of  Boundary  Bay, 
which,  beginning  with  1894,  has  been  run  in  conjunction  with  the  one 
built  at  Point  Boberts  in  1893.  Both  draw  their  supplies  from  the  trap 
nets  about  that  point,  the  most  of  which  they  control,  and  also,  to  some 
extent,  at  times  from  other  nets  in  Boundary  Bay.  These  2  canneries, 
therefore, under  present  conditions  are  the  most  advantageously  placed 
of  all  the  canneries  south  of  the  boundary  with  regard  to  obtaining 
supplies  of  sockeye,  and  their  attention  is  almost  entirely  confined  to 
this  species  except  in  season:^  when  the  run  proves  short.  Some  silver 
salmon,  humpback,  dog  palraon,  and  quinnat  have  been  put  up  at  both 
of  them. 


Ha 


320       REPORT   OF   COMMISSIONER   OF   FISH   AND    FISHERIES. 

A  good-sized  cannery  waa  fonnded  in  1894  at  Friday  Harbor,  on  the 
eastern  side  of  8an  Jaan  Island,  which  is  a  convenient  center  for 
secnring  sockeye  from  the  various  fisheries  about  the  San  Juan  group. 
Its  supplies  up  to  1896  had  been  obtained  chiefly  by  means  of  traps  at 
the  southern  end  of  San  Juan  Island  and  from  the  Indian  reef-netters, 
but  apparently  it  has  been  found  impossible  to  rely  entirely  upon  the 
catch  of  that  species.  In  1895  »  cannery  was  built  at  Port  Angeles, 
with  the  expectation  that  a  sufBcient  quantity  of  sockeye  for  its  own 
use  could  be  obtained  in  the  Strait  of  Fuca,  but  all  efforts  to  that  end 
have  met  with  failure,  and  it  has  been  obliged  to  look  elsewhere  for  its 
stock  of  that  species.  Some  years  ago  a  similar  experiment  was  tried 
at  Clallam,  but  it  was  soon  abandoned.  The  sixth  cannery  examined  in 
1895  was  an  experimental  one  of  small  size  in  Belliugham  Bay.  which 
expected  to  obtain  its  catch  in  the  vicinity  of  the  mouth  of  the  Nook  sack 
Eiver. 

There  were  11  canneries  in  operation  in  1896;  32  in  1897,  and  18  in 
1898.  The  new  ones  were  located  mainly  at  Blaine,  on  Lummi  Island, 
in  Belliugham  Bay,  at  Anacortes  in  Skagit  Bay,  and  at  Seattle.  At 
Anacortes  there  were  3  canneries,  all  established  in  1896,  with  tlie 
object  of  taking  advantage  of  the  run  of  sockeye  belonging  to  the 
Skagit  River.  The  pack  in  1897  was  exceedingly  large,  and  to  a  very 
great  extent  consisted  of  sockeye,  of  which  the  run  in  that  year,  as 
elsewhere  explained,  seems  to  have  been  unprecedented. 

Oil  the  Fraser  River  the  canning  season  is  practically  coincident  with 
the  period  of  the  sockeye  run.  A  few  canneries  may  start  up  in  June 
in  order  to  do  something  with  the  quinnat,  and  in  those  years  when  the 
supply  of  sockeye  is  inadequate  for  a  full  pack  some  establishments 
may  continue  operations  during  more  or  less  of  the  silver  salmon  run. 
In  Washington  also  little  or  nothing  is  done  before  the  appearance  of 
the  sockeye,  and  while  most  of  the  canneries  there  would  be  satisfied 
to  close  with  that  species,  could  they  obtain  it  in  sufficient  quantity, 
nearly  all  have  been  more  dependent  on  other  species  than  the  Cana- 
dian canneries  and  are  more  likely  to  keep  open  later.  The  Seattle 
canneries,  whose  supplies  are  obtained  outside  the  sockeye  region,  begin 
operations  much  later  than  the  more  northern  canneries  and  continue 
them  during  the  greater  part  of  the  fall. 

While  the  positions  of  trust  in  Ihe  several  canneries  are  chiefly  filled 
by  whites,  nearly  all  the  labor,  both  in  British  Columbia  and  in  Wash- 
ington, is  performed  by  Chinese,  who  become  exceedingly  expert  in 
every  branch  of  the  business  and  work  rapidly.  The  secret  of  their 
employment  to  so  great  an  extent  is  the  cheap  rates  of  compensation 
with  which  they  are  satisfied — a  condition  which  practically  excludes 
white  labor,  but  without  wh^ch  it  is  difficult  to  see  how  the  canning 
industry  could  now  be  maintained.  It  would,  moreover,  be  impossible, 
under  existing  circumstances,  to  secure  the  amount  of  white  labor 
required  in  the  large  canning  districts,  in  view  of  the  temporary  nature 
of  the  work.    In  sorje  of  the  canneries,  especially  on  the  Fraser  River, 


MP 


on  the 
ter  for 
group, 
aps  at 
etters, 
on  the 
igeles, 
tsown 
at  end 
for  its 
'8  tried 
ined  in 
which 
oksack 


FISHERIES  OF  WASHINGTON  AND   BRITISH   COLUMBIA.       321 

Indian  women  and  children  are  employed  to  clean  the  fish  after  they 
have  been  eviscerated,  being  members,  generally,  of  the  families  of  the 
fishermen  who  are  operating  in  the  same  neighborhood. 

It  is  important  to  note  in  this  connection  the  amount  of  waste  which 
occurs  in  the  preparation  of  salmon  for  canning.  In  cutting  off  the 
heads,  tails,  and  fins  sufficient  care  is  not  always  exercised,  and  much 
flesh  suitable  for  canning  too  often  goes  with  the  refuse.  This  improvi- 
dence is  largely  owing  to  the  abundance  of  fish,  and  it  is  scarcely  to  be 
expected  that  a  remedy  for  it  can  be  found  while  the  supplies  continue  so 
prolific.  The  total  loss  in  weight  to  the  fish  during  this  process, 
including  the  removal  of  the  entrails,  ranges  from  25  to  50  per  cent, 
and  is  probably  seldom  less  than  30  to  40  per  cent.  The  greater  part 
of  the  waste  is  of  course  unavoidable,  and  the  most  that  can  be  hoped 
for  in  this  regard  is  that  some  use  will  soon  be  found  for  it. 

FIBUEBItlEN'S  PBTOES. 

The  prices  which  the  fishermen  receive  for  their  catch  depend  upon 
the  species  and  fluctuate  in  accordance  with  the  supply  and  demand. 
They  vary  markedly  in  different  parts  of  the  same  season  as  well  as 
in  different  years.  The  matter  is  mostly  regulated  by  the  canneries 
during  the  period  when  they  are  in  operation.  When  the  quinnat  first 
begin  running  on  the  Fraser  Biver  in  the  spring  and  are  in  greatest 
demand  for  the  Eastern  trade  they  may  bring  as  much  as  from  $1  to 
$1.25  apiece,  but  the  price  soon  falls,  reaching  75  cents  and  even  less. 
The  highest  price  which  the  British  Columbian  drift-netters  obtain  for 
sockeye  is  about  25  cents  each,  but  this  figure  prevails  only  at  the 
beginning  of  a  season  or  during  one  in  which  the  catch  is  small  and 
causes  a  sharp  competition  among  buyers.  As  the  season  advances 
and  the  fish  become  more  abundant  it  may  fall  off  to  any  figure  as  low 
as  15  and  even  10  cents,  while  during  summers  when  extraordinary 
runs  occur  6  or  7  cents  may  be  as  much  as  a  fisherman  can  expect  to 
receive,  and  even  then  not  all  of  his  fish  may  be  wanted.  In  1897 
many  were  glad  to  get  as  high  as  3  cents,  and  a  large  part  of  the  catch 
was  refused  at  any  price.  The  customary  range  in  price,  however,  is 
j&om  15  to  25  cents. 

At  Point  Roberts  it  is  said  that,  except  when  sockeye  are  scarce,  the 
•cost  of  their  capture  by  trap  nets  is  much  lower  than  the  prices  paid 
'On  the  Fraser  Eiver,  and  it  is  probably  the  same  elsewhere  when  fish 
are  abundant.  In  this  way  the  Washington  canneries  which  obtain 
their  supplies  from  this  source  are  considered  to  have  a  miirked  advan- 
tage over  the  Canadian.  The  sockeye  taken  in  the  reef  nets  at  Point 
Boberta,  Lnmmi  Island,  and  the  southern  end  of  the  San  Jnan  Islands 
were  bringing  10  and  15  cents  apiece  in  1894  and  1895,  but  the  Indians 
are  often  paid  no  more  than  5  to  8  cents  for  them. 

From  5  to  8  cents  is  a  common  price  for  silver  salmon,  while  dog 
«almon  range  from  2  to  G  cents  apiece.  During  the  winter  the  steel- 
head  bring  about  3  to  4  cents  a  pound  for  the  fresh  markets. 

FC9»- — 2X 


822       REPORT  OF   COMMISSIONER  OF   FISH   AND   FISHERIES. 


POLLUTIONS  AND  REFUSE. 


There  seem  at  present  to  be  no  sources  of  pollution  in  this  region 
which  can  be  considered  as  positively  detrimental  to  the  fisheries  in 
the  salt  water,  and  the  same  also  appears  to  be  mainly  trae  as  regards 
the  rivers,  except  as  to  some  localities  of  limited  extent.  This  may  be 
accoanted  for  in  greater  part  by  the  scarcity  of  large  settlements  and 
the  generally  low  temperature  of  the  water. 

Sawmills  have  been  built  on  many  of  the  rivers,  on  some  of  them 
quite  extensively,  and  the  large  amount  of  refuse  which  they  produce 
may,  unless  suitably  cared  for,  .be  the  cause  of  great  and  irreparable 
injury,  as  has  been  so  strikingly  illustrated  on  the  rivers  along  the 
Atlantic  coast.  On  the  Fraser  Kiver  the  number  of  mills  is  not  great, 
and  the  laws  regarding  the  proper  disposition  of  the  sawdust  are  said 
to  be  quite  generally  observed.  In  Washington,  while  the  throwing  of 
sawdust  into  the  streams  is  prohibited,  it  is  reported  that  the  regula- 
tions had  not  been  well  enforced,  although  some  change  may  recently 
have  taken  place  in  that  respect.  Attention  has  been  especially  called 
to  the  Skagit  Biver,  on  whoso  banks  there  are  numerous  shingle  loills, 
from  which  a  very  large  amount  of  refuse  is  allowed  to  enter  the  water. 
According  to  the  statements  from  the  fishermen  in  that  region,  this 
practice  has  caused  a  great  deal  of  damage  to  the  spawniijg-grounds  of 
the  salmon  and  has  affected  the  fishery  in  other  ways. 

The  proper  disposition  of  the  offal  produced  in  connection  with  can- 
ning operations  presents  a  problem  of  very  great  importance  for  this 
region,  especially  as  regards  the  Fraser  Biver,  where  the  industry  is 
most  extensive.  The  refuse  from  this  source,  consisting  of  the  heads, 
fins,  tails,  and  entrails,  has  as  yet  no  market  value  and  must  be  quickly 
disposed  of.  Its  quantity  is  very  great,  equaling  at  the  lowest  calcu- 
lation more  than  one-fourth  the  total  weight  of  the  fish  utilized,  and 
at  this  rate  amounting  to  from  650  to  3,800  tons  annually  on  the  Fraser 
Biver  alone.  In  many  cases  it  runs  up  to  40  and  even  50  per  cent. 
When  it  is  further  considered  that  the  season  lasts  only  from  four  to 
six  weeks,  and  that  the  bulk  of  the  fish  comes  in  spurts,  lasting  only  a 
few  days  each,  the  difficulties  of  the  situation  can  be  fully  realized. 
The  generally  prevalent  custom  is  to  allow  the  refuse  in  its  fresh  con- 
dition to  drop  into  the  water  underneath  or  alongside  of  the  cannery. 
As  the  water  of  this  region,  both  at  sea  and  in  the  rivers,  has  a  rela- 
tively low  temperature  at  all  times,  this  ])ractice  is  less  open  to  objection 
than  would  be  the  case  in  a  warmer  climate. 

The  Washington  canneries  are  all  located  on  the  salt  water  in  more 
or  less  exposed  positions,  where  the  tide  generally  runs  strongly  and 
the  depth  increases  rapidly.  The  greater  part  of  the  refuse  disappears 
at  once  and  is  never  heard  of,  although  in  some  places  a  certain  propor- 
tion may  be  washed  upon  the  shores.    There  is  no  reason  to  believe 


7ISHEBIES   OF    WASHINGTON  AND   BRITISH   COLUMBIA.      323 


region 
ries  in 
igards 
lay  be 
ts  and 


this 


that  it  has  anywhere  been  detrimental  to  the  fishing  interests,  and  in 
vie^  of  the  sparsely  settled  condition  of  the  coast  in  the  vicinity  of 
nearly  all  the  canneries  there  seems  to  be  little  occasion  for  concern 
from  a  sanitary  standpoint.  The  number  of  canneries  must  also  for 
some  time  remain  too  few  to  make  the  disposition  of  their  refuse  a 
question  to  be  handled  by  other  than  the  local  authorities. 

On  the  Fraser  Biver  the  matter  is  more  serious,  as  nearly  all  the 
canneries  are  located  within  a  distance  of  6  to  8  miles  of  the  mouth  of 
the  river;  yet  even  here  there  is  no  evidence  that  the  offal  has  had  any 
deleterious  effect  upon  the  run  of  salmon.  That  injury  of  that  character 
is  scarcely  to  be  expected  from  this  cause  is  indicated,  moreover,  by  the 
still  worse  conditions  produced  each  seafe;on  about  and  immediately 
below  the  spawning-grounds  by  the  floating  masses  of  dead  and  decay- 
ing fishes  through  which  the  fresh  arrivals  continue  their  ascent,  in  no 
way  checked  by  the  foulness  of  the  water.  The  pollution  in  those 
places  is  strikingly  in  evidence,  while  in  the  region  of  tli<>  canneries 
there  is  generally  little  to  be  seen.  The  large  volume  of  water  in  the 
lower  part  of  the  river,  combined  with  the  strong  current  and  low 
temperature,  tends  to  dissipate  the  ofi'al,  which  mainly  disappears  as 
completely  as  in  the  sea.  It  is  a  common  local  belief  that  much  of  it 
is  consumed  by  the  small  fishes  which  are  reported  to  Hwarm  about  the 
cannery  sites,  but  it  is  doubtial  if  they  exert  any  appreciable  influence 
in  disposing  of  this  immense  amount  of  refuse.  Sometimes,  it  is  said, 
the  offal  is  stirred  up  by  the  eddies  so  as  to  become  caught  in  the  drift 
nets  when  they  are  fished  in  shallow  water,  but  such  occurrences  are 
evidently  quite  infrequent. 

Prom  a  sanitary  point  of  view,  however,  the  offal  has  proved  a  nuisance 
in  some  localities.  This  is  not  so  at  New  Westminster,  wheie  no  trou- 
ble from  this  source  has  been  reported.  The  uppermost  point  at  which 
complaint  was  made  is  Ladner,  and  the  conditions  are  also  often  bad 
in  the  neighborhood  of  Stevestou.  In  this  region  the  offal  is  sometimes 
stranded  by  the  current  or  retained  by  the  eddies,  so  that  when  the 
tide  is  out  it  may  become  exposed  on  the  bars  and  in  places  along  the 
banks,  emitting  an  exceedingly  offensive  odor.  It  is  also  drifted  into 
some  of  the  sloughs,  and  may  thus  be  carried  some  distance  inland, 
greatly  to  the  annoyance  of  the  farmers,  who  have  often  to  depend  upon 
the  water  from  these  places  for  domestic  use.  The  local  authorities  at 
Ladner  have  been  making  strenuous  efforts  to  abate  the  nuisance  on  the 
score  of  injury  to  the  public  health,  but  at  last  accounts  they  had  not 
been  entirely  successful. 

Several  expedients  have  been  tried  to  obviate  the  trouble  caused  by 
the  cannery  refuse,  but  all  have  ended  without  definite  result.  The 
Canadian  law  forbids  throwing  it  into  the  river,  but  as  the  enforcement 
of  the  regulation  under  existing  circumstances  seems  to  work  injustice 
to  the  canneries,  its  operation  has  generally  been  suspended,  with  the 
expectation  that  some  advantageous  meth«d  of  disposing  of  the  ofi'al 


324       REPORT  OF   0OMMI88IONBR   OF   FISH   AND   FISHERIES. 


would  sooner  or  later  be  diRCOveretl.  It  was  at  one  time  inRisted  that 
unless  disposed  of  for  fertilizing  pur)x>8es  it  be  buried  on  sliore,  bo 
carried  out  and  dumped  in  the  Onlf  of  Georgia,  or  be  confined  in  cribs 
underneatli  the  canneries;  but  none  of  these  provJHioiis  continued  long 
in  force.  When  held  in  cribs  a  nuisance  was  created  by  the  oily  matter 
running  from  the  mass  of  decaying  fish,  and  the  inclosnres  would  often 
breal(  open,  allowing  a  part  of  their  contents  to  escape.  If  retained  in 
cribs  or  in  scows,  even  for  a  short  time,  the  refuse  was  rendered  largely 
buoyant  by  the  formation  of  gases  in  the  putrid  flesh,  so  that  when 
deposited  in  the  gulf  much  of  it  remained  floating  at  the  surface,  and 
with  a  flood  tide  and  westerly  wind  would  be  drifted  on  the  shore  or 
even  into  the  river  mouth.  The  outside  dumping-ground  has  now 
become  one  of  the  most  important  of  the  drift-net  areas,  and  the  inex- 
pediency of  continuing  its  use  for  the  former  purpose  is  fully  recognized. 
Could  the  refuse  have  been  carried  farther  out  into  the  middle  of  the 
gulf  this  trouble  would  have  been  mostly  prevented,  but  at  a  greatly 
increased  cost.  # 

Several  attempts  have  been  made  to  utilize  the  oflf'al  by  con vei  ting  it 
into  fertilizer  on  a  commercial  basis,  but  as  yet  unsuccessfully.  Its 
very  oily  nature  makes  the  process  difficult  and  expensive,  and  another 
serious  trouble  arises  from  the  immense  quantity  required  to  be 
handled  during  the  brief  period  of  the  fishery,  necessitating  extensive 
arrangements,  the  cost  of  which  would  scarcely  be  warranted  by  the 
shortness  of  the  season. 

While  the  offal  is  fresh  it  sinks  at  once  and  gives  no  trouble,  except 
under  the  circumstances  previously  described.  Until  some  positively 
better  plan  has  been  discovered,  this  seems,  therefore,  to  be  unques- 
tionably the  preferable  way  of  disposing  of  it,  provided  certain  precau- 
tions are  observed.  It  should  be  allowed  to  go  into  the  river  only 
where  tbe  water  is  sufficiently  deep  and  the  current  strong  enough  to 
cause  its  dissipation.  If  these  conditions  do  not  exist  at  certain  of  the 
cannery  sites,  then  the  offal  there  produced  should  be  carried  else- 
where for  deposition.  A  study  of  the  conditions  is  calle<l  for  in  all 
localities  where  canneries  are  in  operation,  and  the  gravity  of  the 
question  presented  by  this  subject  warrants  extreme  measures  to  pre- 
serve the  cleanliness  of  the  river  for  the  sake  of  the  general  health  and 
appearances.  As  regards  the  salmon,  however,  the  continuance  of 
their  runs  seems  to  be  in  no  danger  from  any  of  the  circumHtances  con- 
nected with  the  oft'al  problem.  The  fact  tliat  fresh  offal  sinks  to  the 
bottom  gives  color  to  the  complaints  made  in  some  other  regions  where 
bottom  fisheries  are  carried  on,  but  with  the  salmon,  which  keep  above 
the  bottom  and  are  supposed  not  to  be  influenced  in  their  passage  by 
the  conditions  it  displays,  the  case  is  very  different. 


FISHERIES  OF   WASHINGTON   AND   BRITISH   COLUMBIA.       325 


RBOULATIONS  APFBCTINa   THE   SALMON    FISHERY. 


WASHINGTON. 

The  laws  of  1890  and  1893,  which  were  in  force  at  the  time  of  the 
investigation  by  Dr.  Wakeham  and  the  writer  in  189'),  contained  a  few 
excellent  measures,  but  their  application  being  limited  by  a  decision  of 
the  court  to  Pnget  Sound  in  its  restricted  sense,  the  more  northern 
waters  of  the  State  were  practically  left  without  regulations.  It  is 
nuderstood  that  this  unfortunate  condition  has  been  remedied,  and  sub- 
sequent acts  of  the  State  legislature,  passed  in  1897  and  in  1899,  have 
introduced  many  very  stringent  and  commendable  regulations  regard- 
ing the  manner  of  fishing  and  the  localities  where  the  different  methods 
may  be  used.  There  is  still  lacking,  however,  an  adequate  close-season 
law.  The  latest  regulations  did  not  come  to  the  attention  of  the  writer 
until  after  the  completion  of  this  paper,  a  fact  which  will  serve  to 
explain  the  omission  of  fuller  reference  to  them  in  the  appropriate 
places.  The  measures  now  in  force  relating  specially  to  the  preserva- 
tion of  the  salmon  in  the  Puget  Sound  region  are  briefly  summarized 
below,  the  year  in  which  each  act  was  passed  being  also  given : 

AH  that  part  of  tide  waters  umptying  into  tlie  Strait  of  Fnca,  and  the  bays,  inlets, 
Btreams.  and  estuaries  thereof,  shall  be  known  anddesijiniated  as  Puget  Sound.    (1890.) 

The  use  of  pound  nets,  traps,  weirs,  fish  wheels,  and  other  tixed  applin  .,  purse 
nets,  drag  and  other  seines,  set  and  drift  gill  nets  is  permitted  in  the  wat«rs  of  Puget 
Sound  and  its  tributaries  ns  provided  below.    (1897.) 

All  fishing  by  nets  and  fixed  appliances  is  subject  to  license,  a  separate  license 
being  required  for  each  piece  of  apparatus.  Licenses  arc  issued  only  to  citizens  of 
the  United  States  who  are  residents  of  Washington.  Each  person,  firm,  or  corpora- 
tion is  entitled  to  only  three  licenses.    (1897.) 

The  use  of  pound  nets^  traps,  weirs,  fish  wheels,  and  other  fixed  appliances,  except 
set  lines,  for  the  purpose  of  catching  salmon,  is  prohibited  in  all  rivers  flowing  into 
Pnget  Sound  and  outside  of  said  rivers  within  3  miles  of  their  mouths ;  also  in 
Deception  Pass  or  within  one-half  mile  of  its  western  entrance,  and  in  any  other 
salt  waters  of  the  State  at  a  greater  depth  than  65  feet  at  low  tide.    (1897.) 

It  is  unlawful  to  use  any  purse  net  or  other  like  seine  within  3  miles  and  drag 
seine  within  1  mile  from  the  mouth  of  any  river  flowing  into  Puget  Sound  or  within 
said  rivers.    (1899.) 

No  seine  location  the  title  to  which  is  in  the  State  shall  occupy  a  greater  space 
than  twice  the  length  of  the  seine  covered  by  the  license.    (1899.) 

No  lead  of  any  pound  net,  trap,  fish  wheel,  or  other  fixed  appliance  for  the  catch- 
ing of  salmon  in  Puget  Sound  shall  exceed  2,500  feet  in  length.  There  shall  be  an 
end  passageway  of  at  least  600  feet  and  a  lateral  passageway  of  at  least  2,400  feet 
between  all  pound  nets,  traps,  weirs,  or  other  fixed  appliances.    (1897.) 

Between  all  set  gill  nets  there  shall  be  a  lateral  passageway  of  at  least  300  feet 
and  an  end  passageway  of  30  feet.    (1899.) 

No  fishing  appliance  or  device  of  any  kind  located  or  used  upon  any  streams  or 
rivers  shall,  either  by  a  lead  or  any  parts  of  said  appliance,  occupy  more  than  one- 
third  the  width  of  such  streams  or  rivers.    (1899.) 

The  meshes  in  all  pound  nets,  traps,  weirs,  fish  wheels,  or  other  fixed  appliances 
for  the  capture  of  salmon  shall  measure  not  less  than  3  inches  in  extension.    (1897.) 


326       REPORT  OF   COMMIHSIONER   OP   FISH   AND   FISHERIES. 

It  is  unlawful  to  take  or  fliih  for  nalmon  by  any  meana  exoopt  angling  above  tid« 
water  in  any  of  the  following  riven:  Nookaaok,  Skagit  (np  to  the  town  of  Hamil- 
ton), StiUaguamiili,  Snohomish,  White,  Nesqually,  and  Skokomish.    (1H99.) 

Whenever  the  Fish  Commissioner  shall  consider  that  the  protection  of  the  food- 
flshes  mentioned  in  this  act  (March  13,  1899)  shall  require  it,  he  may  close  to  Ashing 
any  stream  or  river  in  this  State  emptying  into  Pnget  Sound,  etc.    ( 1899. ) 

All  dams  or  other  obstructions  in  streams  where  food-Ash  are  wont  to  ascend  shall 
be  provided  with  Ashways  approved  by  the  Fish  Commissioner,  and  it  is  unlawful 
to  take  any  food-Ash  with..t  100  yards  of  any  such  Ash  way.    (1893.) 

Throwing^  int4>  the  water  any  substance  deleterious  to  Ash,  including  the  waste 
from  sawmills,  and  the  useof  explosives  for  killing  Ash  are  prohibited.    ( 1890, 1891.) 

It  is  unlawful  to  take  Halmon  in  any  of  the  tributaries  of  Pdget  Sound  during 
April  and  f^om  October  15  to  November  16  in  each  year.    ( 1899. ) 

All  young  salmon  measuring  10  inches  long  or  less  which  may  be  taken  by  any 
means  except  hook  and  line  in  either  Puget  Sound  or  any  of  its  tributaries  shall  b« 
returned  alive  to  the  water.    (1898. ) 

Indians  residing  in  the  State  may  take  salmon  or  other  Ae't  by  auy  means  at  any 
time  for  the  use  of  themselves  and  their  families.    (1899.) 

All  moneys  collected  for  licenses  and  Aues  under  provisioni*  a  he  Anheries  acts 
shall  be  turned  into  the  State  treasury  and  placed  in  the  fish-hatctiei  y  fund.     (1897.) 


BRITISH  COLUMBIA. 

Following  is  an  abstract  of  the  more  essential  regulations  regarding 
salmon  fishing  in  the  Fraser  Biver  district,  which  went  into  effect  May 
1, 1894,  together  with  such  amendments  as  have  since  been  ordered : 

Commercial  Ashing  is  restricted  to  the  use  of  drift  gill  nets  not  exceeding  ISO 
fathoms  in  length,  and  to  tidal  waters,  the  upper  limit  of  which  on  the  Fraser  River 
is  placed  at  the  month  of  the  Sumas  River. 

The  drift  nets  for  quinnat  salmon  shall  have  not  less  than  7}-inch  mesh,  and  can 
be  used  only  from  March  1  to  September  15.  (By  order  of  June  19,  1897,  the  limita- 
tion upon  the  size  of  the  uiesh  of  the  quinnat  nets  was  reduced  to  7  inches,  mainly 
with  the  object  of  adjuating  them  to  the  capture  of  the  steelhead  and  silver  salmon.) 

The  drift  nets  for  other  kinds  of  salmon  shall  have  not  less  than  6i-inch  mesh, 
andean  be  used  only  from  July  1  to  August  25,  and  again  from  September  25  to 
October  31. 

All  commercial  fishing  for  salmon  is  prohibited  weekly  trom  6  a.  m.  Saturday  to 
6  p.  m.  Sunday,  and  annually  from  September  16  to  25,  and  from  November  1  to 
March  1. 

Drift  nets  shall  be  kept  at  least  250  yards  apart,  and  shall  not  be  used  so  as  to 
obstruct  more  than  one  third  the  width  of  the  river. 

Above  tidal  waters  the  only  net  fishing  permitted  is  the  use  of  dip  nets  by  the 
Indians  to  provide  food  for  themselveM  and  their  families.  The  Indians,  however, 
are  required  to  respect  the  spawning-grounds  of  salmon  and  the  close  seasons. 

Fishing  can  bo  carried  on  only  under  license,  except  in  the  case  of  Indians  Ash- 
ing to  supply  their  own  wants. 

Commercial  licenses  to  fish  for  salmon  are  granted  only  to  bona  fide  fishermen  who 
are  British  subjects  and  residents  of  British  Colnmbia,  or  to  any  company,  firm,  or 
person  dealing  in  salmon  when  each  member  of  snch  company  or  firm  or  snch  person 
is  a  British  subject. 

Fishermen  are  entitled  to  1  license  each;  dealers  in  f^esh,  frozen,  salted,  cured, 
or  smoked  salmon  for  domestic  or  foreign  trade  are  entitled  to  7  licenses  each ;  can- 
neries are  entitled  to  20  licenses  each.  (Canneries  were  restricted  to  10  licenses 
each  by  orders  of  Angnst  3,  1898,  and  March  29,  1899.) 

Every  farmer  or  settler  actually  residing  on  his  lands  or  with  his  family,  being  a 
British  subject,  is  entitled  to  1  "domestic  "  license,  which  gives  him  the  privilege 


ke  tide 
I  Hamil- 

|ie  food- 
flahing 

Ind  shall 
Inlawfiil 

^e  waate 
9,1891.) 
daring 

by  any 
I  ahnll  bo 


PI8HER1ES    OF   WASHINGTON    AND    BRITISH   COLUMBIA.       327 

of  tiahing  for  his  own  use  in  any  of  tlio  waterH  of  Britiah  (Juliimbiu,  aiibject  to  cer- 
tain reatrictloiia  as  to  nets,  prrscrilxtd  lioiitH,  spawn ing-grounila,  and  close  aoasona. 

The  oaptiirt*  and  retention  of  any  Hulnion  under  3  pounila  in  weight  ii  proliibited. 

The  use  of  lireurms,  oxploaivea,  apeara,  torches,  or  other  lighta  to  Icill  flah  \h  pro- 
hibited. 

No  deleteriuiia  aubatanoea  are  allowed  to  be  thrown  into  or  to  enter  the  water 
where  they  woul«l  be  prejudicial  to  the  flaherieH.  Under  thia  category  ia  included 
iiah  ofl'ul,  tlie  throwing  of  which  into  the  FraHcr  River  is  prohibited  by  regulation. 
Ita  diapoaal  is  provided  for  in  the  Fiaheries  Art  as  foUowa:  That  it  may  be  buried 
ashore  beyond  high-water  mark,  and  that  at  eatabliahuientN  aituutcd  inaide  of  the 
nioutha  of  rivera  for  carrying  on  doitpaea  tiahericH  the  aame  may  bi«  dropped  into 
perforated  boxoa  or  inclosures  built  upon  the  beach  or  under  stage  lieada,  in  auch 
manner  aH  to  prevent  the  aauie  fVom  Iteing  floated  or  drifted  into  the  atreani,  or  may 
be  diapoHcd  of  in  auch  other  manner  na  any  llahery  oincer  preacribea. 

Fishwaya  shall  be  provided  at  every  dam,  slide,  or  other  jHtruction  across  or  in 
anyatream  whore  the  Miniater  of  Marine  and  FishericH  determines  it  to  bo  uect^aaary 
for  the  poiilic  interest. 

STATISTICS. 
Salmon  catvh  of  the  I'uget  Sound  district  of  the  Slate  of  H'ashington . 

[Compiled  I'roni  the  reimrU  of  the  Unittnl  Ktateit  h'Mt  Coniiiiiaiiion  und  the  State  FiHh  CoiiiniiRaioner 

uf  Waahtngton.] 


Tear*. 

I 
Qiitnuat.       Kockeye. 

Silver. 

te  '  ^g- 

Steelheatl. 

Total. 

1888 

Pounds. 

Povndt. 

Pound*. 

Pounds. 

I'oundt. 

Poundf. 

Pound*. 
2, 036, 250 

1889            

96,228 

132, 183 

202, 075 

28.5, 748 

1, 405, 047 

1,388,495 
1,09.T822 
1,414.010 
1,836,904 
9, 100, 675 

283,042 

366,117 

854,  973 

965,011 

2,691,425 

4,578,540 

90,570 

172.460 

209,320 

261, 142 

1,965,552 

2, 224, 452 

1890 

'""'522,766' 

274,225 

6,532,207 

2. 253, 4:18 

1891 

715,061 

4, 020, 737 

1892 

5,  319, 444 

1895 

2,260,766 

25,851,787 

1896 

*I5,000, 000 

1897 

42. 725, 000 

1898 





82, 213, 000 



KOTP— The  flifiircR  fr.r  1888,  1897,  niitl  1808  are  baaed  upon  the  rotuma  given  in  the  reports  of  the 
State  ttah  commiasioner,  and  are  only  npproximato.  Thoae  for  181,6  are  prohnb!y  in  error,  being 
evidently  too  low. 

Salmon  cannery  pack  of  the  Puget  Sound  district  of  the  State  of  Washington. 

(Oompiled  from  the  reports  of  tho  llnite<l  States  Fiah  Commiiiaion  and  the  State  Fish  Commiasioner 

of  Washington.] 


Yean. 


No.  of 
canneries. 


Quin     t.  I    Sookeye. 


1889. 

1890. 

1891. 

1892. 

1893. 

l^<H. 

1896 

1896. 

1897. 

1898. 


Poll  <tt. 
15,648 

3,984 
24,816 

5,616 
57,600 


Pounds. 


Silver.      Humpback 


11 
12  I 
18  ! 


74,016 
647, 760 
456,000 
537,600 


360,000 

192, 000 

2, 206. 896 

2, 005, 488 

3, 126, 864 

2, 502, 992 

14, 078, 304 

12, 096, 000 


Pounds. 

486, 192 

238.944 

381,504 

489, 984 

f  '3,  976 

.,  j76,064 

2,441,520 

3, 966. 720 

4,411,200 

4,732,800 


Pound*. 
182,  592 


Dog. 


367, 056 


841,440 
•  434, 352 
1,134,384 


2, 748, 864 


Pound*. 

74,448 

200,112 

201, 024 

1,051.728 

546,  240 

1, 06:i,  296 

1,861,680 

1, 274, 400 

1, 118, 880 

1,843,200 


Total. 


Pounds. 

758, 880 

44:1,040 

1, 334, 400 

1,739,328 

4, 309. 152 

4, 679, 200 

8, 6.38. 464 

8,  .391, 872 

23, 713, 248 

19,209,600 


'These  tlgures  aru  j;ivcn  in  the  tables  of  the  Ignited  States  Fish  Commiasion  (Report  for  1896, p. 
681),  although  no  humpback  salmon  could  have  been  taken  that  year. 


328       REPORT  OP  COMMISSIONER   OP   PISH   AND   FISHERIES, 

StaHstics  of  the  Britieh  Columhia  salmon  fishery  of  the  Fraeer  River,  Gulf  of  Georgia, 

and  Strait  of  Juan  de  Fuca. 

[Compiled  flrom  th<'  nnnnal  reports  of  the  Department  of  Marine  and  Fiaheries  of  Canada.] 


Year. 


1876. 
1877. 
1878. 
1879. 
1880. 
1881. 
1882. 
1883. 
1884. 
1885. 
1888. 
1887. 
1888. 
1889. 
1890. 
1891. 
1802. 
1898. 
1894. 
1895. 
1896. 
1897. 
1898. 


No.  of 
drift-net 
licenses. 


Total 
leneth  of 
drinneU. 


285 
449 
304 
274 
398 
666 
764 
702 
655 
731 
935 


Tardi. 


44,040 
114,680 

65.600 
105, 240 
.124,400 
205, 6U0 
215, 780 
21  ,  770 
189,200 
232,920 
350,850 
282, 520 
254.200 
298,880 
244, HIO 
252, 580 
»&5, 900 
603,900 
628,  IKK) 
803, 800 
709,400 


No.  of 
canneries. 


5 

8 

7 

7 

8 

13 

12 

6 

6 

11 

12 

12 

16 

17 

22 

22 

26 

28 

31 

36 

43 


Output  of 
canned 
salmon. 


Pound*. 

511,066 

3,090,576 

5,044,880 

2, 423, 520 

2,  U2;{,  440 

6, 840, 768 

9,661,072 

5, 265, 648 

1,  si4, 976 

4,301,016 

4, 758, 676 

6, 182, 688 

3. 677, 668 

14, 789, 856 

11,742,600 

8, 527, 552 

4, 277, 552 

22, 763, 380 

17,451,172 

20, 780, 170 

18, 016, 544 

42, 197,  516 

9, 600,  UOO 


Quantity 
of  salmon 
sold  fresh, 
salted,  and 

smoked. 


Pounds. 
96,200 

690,200 
1, 010, 200 

157, 300 

413. 58U 
2,  306.  200 

878, 200 
1, 170, 600 
1, 720, 500 
2, 395, 000 

842, 350 

1.  954, 600 

2,  375. 400 
2,  620,  700 
1, 898. 100 
2,117,153 
2, 893, 309 
4, 197. 700 
2,100.500 
1,871,91): 
1, 240, 695 
2,777,669 


Total  eal- 
mou  catch. 


Potmdt. 

777,608 

4, 810, 968 

7, 736, 707 

3, 3H8, 660 

8,111,600 

11.  427, 224 

13, 627, 496 

8, 191. 464 

4,  iSG.  528 

8.131,088 

7, 187, 118 

10, 108, 184 

7. 278, 824 

22, 340, 508 

17,554,900 

13, 487.  222 

8.596,712 

34, 548. 873 

25. 468.  ?29 

29,57H,886 

25, 271. 754 

59,041,024 


i 


NoTB. — This  tAble  is  based  npon  the  reports  of  the  inspector  of  fisheries  for  British  Columbia  as 
published  in  the  annual  reports  of  the  Department  of  Marino  and  Fisheries  of  Canada.  No  data  are 
available  for  determining  the  pari,  taken  by  the  hook-ai.d-line  fishery  in  the  salt  waters.  In  comput- 
ing the  total  annual  catch,  the  flgnres  for  which  arc  only  approximate  at  best,  an  allowance  of 
one-fourth  in  weight  is  made  for  waste  in  the  preparation  of  the  canned  salmon.  A  barrel  of  cured 
salmon  is  reckoned  at  200  pounds,  and  fresh  salmon  have  been  estimated  to  average  10  pounds  each 
where  the  records  show  the  number  marketed  instead  of  the  weiglit.  This  total  catch  relates  almost 
exclusively  to  the  salmon  utilized  in  trade,  both  foreign  and  domentic,  although  some  part  of  the  fresh 
salmon  may  have  been  taken  by  the  eatoher  to  sui)ply  his  own  wants. 

The  quantity  of  salmon  caught  and  used  by  the  Indians  is  said  to  he  very  large,  generally  much 
exceeding  the  amount  secured  for  market,  though  undoubtedly  consisting  in  greater  part  of  inferior 
•pecies.  Exact  figures  are  not  obtainable,  but  in  1886  or  previously  the  quantity  was  estimated  at 
25,000,000  pounds  annually,  and  these  figure:)  or  their  money  equivalent  were  repeate<l  in  theoBic  1 
reports  for  several  subsequent  years.  They  were  afterwards  discontinued,  liowever,  us  having  too  little 
foundation  in  fact. 


feorgia, 

Ja.] 


lotal  sal- 
pii  catch . 


FISHEEIES  OF  WASHINGTON  AND   BRITISH   COLUMBIA.      329 


SUMMARY. 

In  the  account  that  has  gone  before,  the  conditions  presented  by  this 
region  are  shown  to  be,  from  a  fishery  standpoint,  both  varied  and  per- 
plexing— varied  as  to  its  natural  features  and  resources,  and  perplexing 
in  the  division  of  its  waters  between  two  distinct  countries.  A  long, 
deep,  and  rugged  arm  of  the  sea,  fed  by  many  iuountu.in  streams,  invites 
a  host  of  fishes  from  the  ocean  to  seek  shelter,  food,  and  spawning- 
grounds.  So  closely  does  it  resemble  the  outer  coast  in  the  purity, 
salinity,  and  coolness  of  its  waters,  that  its  fishes  are  identical,  while 
the  character  of  its  surroundings  greatly  increases  the  opportunities 
for  their  capture.  Among  the  useful  species  which  enter  here  are 
several  of  anadromous  habit,  which  occur  in  extreme  abundance, 
being  represented  by  one  form  or  another  throughout  nearly  the  entire 
year. 

It  is  doubtful  if  any  other  known  region  of  no  greater  size  aflbrds  so 
rich  an  assemblage  of  aquatic  products  or  offers  so  many  inducements 
for  remunerative  employment  in  their  pursuit.  To  retain  these  benefits, 
so  important  for  the  region,  will  require  the  exercise  of  a  wise  fore- 
thought by  those  in  power,  as  well  as  the  accomplishment  of  a  still 
more  difficult  task,  the  securing  of  harmonious  action  by  the  two 
nations  whose  interests  are  made  inseparable  through  the  extent  to 
which  the  more  prominent  fishes  cross  the  boundary  line.  As  regards 
the  salt  waters  the  resources  seem  to  be  about  equally  divided  between 
the  two  countries,  but  Canada  has  much  the  greater  advantage  in  the 
matter  of  rivers,  not  in  point  of  numbers,  perhaps,  but  in  the  possession 
of  the  Fraser  systijm,  one  of  the  most  extensive  resorts  of  salmon  in  the 
world. 

While  no  marked  decrease  in  the  abundance  of  any  species,  except 
in  two  or  three  instances,  has  so  far  been  positively  recorded,  experience 
teaches  that  in  waters  such  as  these  a  decrease  is  certain  to  appear 
unless  due  precautions  are  taken  to  prevent  it,  and  they  should  be  both 
timely  and  efi^ective.  Some  of  the  open  sea  fisheries  in  the  North 
Atlantic  Ocean  have  been  prosecuted  for  centuries  without  apparently 
diminishing  the  supply,  but  the  number  of  these  is  comparatively  small. 
As  a  rule,  man's  iuiluence  has  been  felt,  its  extent  varying  with  the 
natural  limitations  upon  the  movements  of  the  fishes  which  are  sought, 
the  perfection  of  the  fishiug  methods,  and  the  persistence  with  which 
the  latter  are  employed.  The  more  restricted  a  fish's  habitat,  the 
smaller  the  sheet  of  water  or  the  narrower  the  river,  the  more  readily, 
in  general,  may  the  species  be  caught  out.  In  conformity  also  with 
the  same  conditions  are  generally  the  opportunities  for  organizing 
systems  of  protection  which  shall  be  adequate  to  insure  the  perpetuity 
of  each  fishery. 

A  thorough  regulation  of  tLti  fisheries  does  not,  however,  imply  a 
return  to  primitive  or  inferior  methods  of  capture.    There  can  be  no 


330       REPORT  OP  COMMISSIONER   OP   PISH   AND   FISHERIES. 


I    ! 


reason  for  prohibiting  the  more  perfect  kinds  of  apparatus  which  are 
not  actually  vicious  in  their  efiects,  provided  the  quantity  of  fish 
allowed  to  be  taken  is  properly  restricted.  In  the  competition  which 
pervades  all  industries  it  would  indeed  be  unwise  to  require  adherence 
to  old-time  practices,  whereby  the  price  of  fish  would  be  proportionally 
increased  above  that  of  other  classes  of  our  food  supply. 

It  is  to  be  recalled  in  this  connectioc  that  the  fishery  products  of  a 
country  are,  as  a  rule,  the  property  of  the  public  as  represented  by  the 
state  or  sovereign,  despite  the  very  prevalent  idea  that  they  belong 
solely  to  those  who  seek  them.  The  fishermen  rank  practically  as  ten- 
ants, at  some  times  paying  for  their  privileges,  at  others  not,  when 
their  status  is  uiore  like  that  of  a  squatter  on  the  public  lands.  Consid- 
ering the  ignorance  or  indi£ference  with  which  the  matter  has  always 
been  treated  by  the  people  and  the  fishermen  alike,  it  is  not  surprising 
that  most  of  the  older  fisheries  within  restricted  areas  have  been  so 
greatly  despoiled,  and  that  newly  discovered  ones  should  be  looked 
upon  more  for  the  opportunities  for  speculation  t^<)y  aftbrd  than  as 
resources  which  can  and  should  be  made  lasting. 

The  trouble  arises  chiefly  from  the  fact  that,  except  in  a  few  respects, 
water  territory  can  not  be  managed  in  the  same  manner  as  the  land, 
in  regard  to  which  the  individual  is  held  primarily  responsible  in  the 
economy  of  government.  The  land,  for  instance,  is  customarily  divided 
up  and  passes  under  private  control  for  such  purposes  as  those  of  agri- 
culture and  mining.  Crops  are  sown  and  harvested  and  rock  products 
are  extracted  as  suits  the  needs  or  pleasure  of  the  possessor  of  the 
ground.  The  extent  to  which  his  industry  is  carried  requires  the 
dictates  of  no  other  law  than  that  of  self-preservation  or  advancenent. 
Should  he  be  neglectful  or  wasteful  it  redounds  to  his  own  injury, 
while  with  thrift  and  care  his  returns  may  be  many  times  increased. 
If  he  fails  in  hm  obligations  to  himself  the  community  as  such  is  not 
supposed  to  suffer. 

With  regard  to  the  fisheries  it  is  very  difTerent.  While  certain 
sedentary  products  of  the  sea,  such  as  oysters,  may  be  farmed  out,  so 
to  speak,  and  small  ponds  and  streams  may  be  treated  as  individual 
belongings,  the  great  bulk  of  aquatic  animals  is  not  subject  to  private 
management.  Most  fishes,  and  especially  those  of  much  commercial 
value,  are  wanderers,  whose  confinement  within  artificial  barriers  is 
impossible.  Thus,  were  the  fisherman  to  plant,  his  crops  would  be 
shared  by  all  alike ;  he  could  neither  inclose  them  nor  define  them,  nor 
would  his  personal  efforts  be  of  any  avail  in  pr-^moting  the  general 
welfare.  The  fisheries  must,  therefore,  be  administered  upon  by  the 
state  as  a  common  holding,  and  the  laws  relating  to  them  must  not 
only  regulate  the  behavior  of  those  who  participate,  but  also  limit  and 
define  the  extent  and  manner  of  their  participation.  This  is  entirely 
in  line  with  the  state  control  of  waters  for  ail  other  purposes,  such  as 
navigation,  and  in  conformity  with  the  customs  of  all  nations. 


I 


' 


..aMSii 


FISHERIES    OF   WASHINGTON   AND    BRITISH    COLUMBIA.       331 


ich  are 

of  fish 

which 

heremse 

tionally 


% 


It  is,  of  course,  to  be  understood  that  these  remarks  do  not  apply  to 
extraterritorial  waters,  which  are  generally  conceded  to  be  outside  the 
jurisdiction  of  any  country,  although  several  countries  may  unite  in 
concerted  action  for  their  protection.  And,  furthermore,  it  in  to  be 
remembered  that  the  Federal  Government  of  the  United  States  has  not 
heretofore  concerned  itself  with  the  regulation  of  the  fisheries,  except 
in  some  special  cases,  leaving  to  the  individual  States  the  entire  control 
of  such  matters. 

In  the  region  to  whi^h  this  paper  relates  there  may  still  be  time  to 
give  the  fisheries  the  full  benefits  of  a  wise  protection  before  any  or'  its 
branches  shall  have  been  appreciably  impaired,  but  action  should  not 
be  long  deferred,  as  a  decrease  once  begun  is  hard  to  check.  The 
urgency  of  the  matter  is  umpbaisized  by  the  fact  that  elsewhere  fish- 
eries of  the  same  character  as  the  more  important  ones  here  have  been 
among  the  first  to  suffer  iirom  indiscretion,  and  it  is  not  to  be  expected 
that  this  region  will  furnish  an  exception  to  the  rule.  Of  the  regula- 
tions already  in  existence  some  are  excellent,  but  as  a  whole,  and  more 
especially  in  Washington,  they  still  fail  to  meet  certain  most  essential 
requirements.  In  view  of  the  fact  that  only  a  few  branches  of  fishing 
are  immediately  concerned,  however,  not  many  additional  laws  are 
necessary  at  present,  but  it  is  very  important  to  begin  upon  a  course 
of  procedure  that  shall  be  logical,  and  consequently  effective.  It  is  not 
suggested  to  carry  the  restrictions  to  a  point  where  they  would  be 
either  oppressive  or  unjust,  but  chiefiy  to  establish  a  proper  system  of 
limitations  before  the  strain  upon  the  local  resources  shall  become  too 
great. 

Unfortunately  there  is  little  definite  information  as  a  basis  for  legis- 
lative action,  though  possibly  sufficient  for  the  time  in  the  directions 
where  most  urgency  exists.  It  is,  therefore,  of  the  greatest  importance 
to  institute  without  delay  a  detailed  and  comprehensive  investigation 
of  the  fishery  products  of  the  region  with  reference  to  their  natural 
history  and  the  extent  to  which  their  pursuit  may  safely  be  carried. 
The  laws  governing  their  capture  can  be  perfected  only  in  proportion 
to  the  sum  of  knowledge  derived  from  such  studies,  which  will  also 
serve  the  further  purpose  of  making  these  resources  better  known  and 
of  indicating  new  channels  for  their  development. 

Before  passing  to  the  special  considerations  which  follow,  it  may  be 
well  to  explain,  what  seems  not  generally  to  be  understood  even  by 
many  of  the  older  fishermen,  that  the  inland  salt  waters  of  this  region 
are  entirely  divided  between  the  two  adjoining  countries,  leaving  no 
intervening  high  sea  open  unrestrictedly  to  all  comers.  From  the 
mainland  at  Point  Eoberts  the  boundary  line  extends  due  west  partly 
across  the  Gulf  of  Georgia,  and  thence  midway  through  the  Canal  de 
Haro  and  the  Strait  of  Juan  de  Fuca  to  the  ocean.  The  United  States 
on  one  side  of  this  line  and  Oar;ida  on  the  other  have  each  complete 
jurisdiction  over  its  share,  whether  navigation,  the  fisheries,  or  other 
subject  is  concerned. 


332       REPORT  OF   COMMISSIONER   OF   FISH  AND   FISHERIES. 


1 


For  convenience  of  discussion,  the  useful  fishes  of  the  region  may  be 
arbitrarily  classed  in  three  groups:  First,  those  which  exclusively 
inhabit  the  salt  water;  second,  those  which  belong  entirely  to  the  fresh 
water;  and,  third,  those  whose  habit  causes  them  to  make  periodic 
migrations  between  the  sea  and  the  rivers. 

The  salt-water  fishes  present  the  greatest  number  and  diversity  of 
forms,  but  ouly  a  few  now  figure  at  all  prominently  in  the  catch,  and 
the  minority  may  be  regarded  rather  in  light  of  a  reserve  stock,  which 
will  be  drawn  upon  more  and  more  with  the  increase  of  local  popu- 
lation. In  only  one  direction,  probably,  has  the  fishery  progressed 
sufficiently  to  give  cause  for  concern,  and  as  a  whole  the  resources  of 
the  group,  so  far  as  can  be  judged,  may  be  considered  as  in  good  con- 
dition. The  halibut  is  at  present  the  most  important  of  ^he  marine 
species,  chiefly  because  of  the  large  demand  for  it  in  eastern  markets. 
It  has  always  been  a  favorite  food  with  the  Indians  and  one  of  their 
principal  objects  of  pursuit,  but  there  is  no  reason  to  suppose  that  its 
abundance  was  in  any  way  afl'ected  until  long  after  the  advent  of  the 
whites.  The  rapidly  growing  trade  recently  inaugurated,  however, 
has  caused  a  heavy  drain  upon  the  different  grounds  tributary  to  the 
region,  and  while  the  large  shippers  depend  almost  entirely  ui>on  the 
outer  and  more  extensive  sources  of  supply,  yet  the  inner  grounds 
have  had  to  stand  a  more  active  fishery  than  before;  and  as  they  are 
small,  scattered,  and  relatively  few  in  number,  have  quickly  felt  the 
effects  of  overfishing,  a  very  appreciable  decrease  being  reported,  A 
remedy  will  be  difficult  to  find,  owing  to  the  indefinite  character  of  the 
fishery,  but  some  restriction  should  undoubtedly  be  placed  uimn  the 
quaiitity  offish  taken. 

-  Attention  slionid  also  be  given  to  the  oysters,  of  which  the  supply 
can  readily  be  increased  and  the  quality  improved  by  artificial  culti- 
vation. The  fisheries  for  crabs  and  shrimps,  and  possibly  for  clams 
likewise,  need  supervision,  the  crustaceans  being  especially  subject  to 
depletion. 

The  purely  fresh-water  fishes  are  of  very  much  less  importance  than 
either  of  the  other  groups.  Among  them  are  no  species  of  ftxteusive 
oommeicial  value,  but  their  protection  is  particularly  desirable  in  the 
interest  of  local  markets  and  sport  fishing.  International  action  is 
scarcely  called  for,  however,  unless  it  be  to  provide  jointly  for  the 
enforcement  of  regulations  to  prevent  illegal  shipments  across  the 
border.  In  considering  this  group,  the  fact  should  not  be  lost  sight  of 
that  the  trout  are  among  the  worst  enemies  of  young  salmon,  and  that, 
in  a  region  whose  industrial  prosperity  is  so  largely  dependent  upon 
the  salmon  fishery,  it  would  be  unwise  to  jeopardize  the  latter  for  the 
sake  of  the  trout. 

The  third  group  consists  of  the  anadromous  fishes,  whose  most  con- 
spicuous members  are  the  salmons.  The  sturgeon  also  occupies  a  prom- 
inent place,  the  eulacbon  is  locally  important,  and  the  Atlantic  shad 
seems  destined  to  gain  a  foothold.    While  it  may  yet  be  too  early  to 


FISHERIES   OP   WASHINGTON   AND   BRITISH   COLUMBIA.       333 


take  action  regarding  the  8])ecieH  last  named,  the  protection  of  the 
enlachon  is  of  safBcient  moment  to  be  made  the  Hubject  of  inquiry. 

While  the  supply  of  sturgeon  is  presumably  still  intact,  this  bulky 
flsh,  whose  value  is  so  greatly  enhanced  by  its  caviar,  has  been  the 
first  to  suffer  in  each  new  fishery  of  which  it  has  formed  a  part,  and 
its  early  elimination  from  each  as  a  prominent  factor  has  been  the  rule. 
Attention  here  has  been  so  closely  concentrated  upon  the  salmon,  and 
the  difflcnlties  in  the  way  of  marketing  the  sturgeon  have  been  so 
great,  that  the  latter  has  been  little  fished  for  until  within  a  few  years. 
Its  abundance,  however,  and  the  readineets  with  which  it  may  be  cap- 
tured ill  both  the  fresh  and  salt  water  presage  for  it  an  extensive 
fishery,  which  has  already  taken  form  on  the  Fraser  Kiver  and  pos- 
sibly elsewhere.  In  the  salt  water  it  is  mainly  caught  incidentally  in 
connection  with  the  salmon,  but  with  better  means  of  disponing  of  the 
catch  it  is  certain  to  be  sought  for  specially. 

The  protection  of  the  sturgeon  may,  in  a  measure,  be  secured  by  pro- 
hibiting the  capture  and  sale  of  any  but  the  mature  sizes,  by  making 
reservations  of  the  spawning-grounds,  by  instituting  close  seasons,  and 
by  restricting  the  amount  of  fishing.  The  Washington  law  of  1897 
makes  a  close  season  from  March  1  to  November  1  and  forbids  the  use 
of  young  sturgeon  less  than  4  feet  in  length.  In  British  Columbia 
there  is  a  general  close  season  from  June  1  to  July  15  a"d  a  weekly 
close  time  corresponding  with  that  for  the  salmon.  Fishing  is  limited 
to  the  use  of  gill  nets,  drift  nets,  and  baited  hooks,  the  nets  being  not 
longer  tban  300  fathoms  and  having  not  less  than  a  12-inch  mesh. 
They  can  not  be  set  less  than  250  yards  ai)art.  Not  more  than  6  hooks 
can  be  attached  to  each  fishing  line,  and  sturgeon  under  4  feet  long 
must  be  returned  alive  i,o  the  water. 

The  salmons,  much  more  than  any  other  fishes,  demand  immediate 
and  serious  consideration,  as  they  constitute  by  far  the  most  prominent 
fishery  resource  of  the  region  and  furnish  the  bulk  of  all  its  fishing. 
Without  them  the  fisheries  here  would  never  have  attracted  special 
attention,  and  should  they  ever  meet  with  the  mishaps  which  seem 
elsewhere  to  have  been  the  inevitable  result  of  civilizing  infiuences  this 
industry  must  certainly  become  of  comparatively  slight  importance.  Not 
all  the  other  species  combined  could  nearly  take  their  place  as  a  source 
of  local  revenue. 

The  quantity  of  salmon  which  frequents  these  waters  is  beyond  cal- 
culation, and  seems  even  to  be  ko  great  as  to  challenge  human  ingenuity 
to  afl'ect  it  in  any  way ;  but  upon  reverting  to  the  conditions  that  existed 
in  the  northern  Atlantic  rivers  less  than  a  century  ago  we  are  led  to 
recognize  the  omnipotence  of  man  in  this  direction  at  least.  The 
destruction  there,  to  be  sure,  was  due  only  in  part  to  overfishing,  but 
today  the  demands  are  much  greater  and  the  fishing  engines  more 
powerful.  The  catch  need  not  reach  the  consumer  immediately,  but  may 
be  stored  awaiting  his  pleasure  or  a  rise  in  prices,  and  may  be  shipped^ 
without  injury,  to  the  remotest  quarters  of  the  world.    Such  activity  in 


334       REPORT   OF    COMMISSIONER   OF   PISH   AND    FI8HFRIE8. 

the  salmon  fishery  as  now  pervades  this  region,  in  common  with  the 
Columbia  Biver  and  the  Alaskan  coast,  was  not  dreamed  of  a  few 
decades  ago,  and  its  eifects  are  not  measarable  by  the  older  standards. 
In  this  particular  locality  the  growth  of  the  industry  has  recently  been 
mnch  accelerated,  and  with  the  experience  now  acqaired  an  increase  in 
the  catch  from  year  to  year  is  readily  assured  and  will  as  manifestly  be 
demanded.  The  question  is,  Where  will  it  end?  The  circumstances 
have  been  so  unusual  that  time  alone  can  solve  the  problem.  There 
appears  so  far  to  have  been  no  appreciable  decrease  in  any  of  the 
species,  bnt,  however  abundant  each  may  be,  it  seems  impossible  that 
this  condition  could  continue  long. 

The  situation  presented  by  the  salmon  fishery  is  briefly  as  follows: 
Six  species  of  the  group  occur  in  this  region,  ail  edible  and  uf  uuiumer- 
cial  value,  but  graded  for  the  market  in  accordance  with  the  quality, 
the  color,  and  the  firmness  of  their  flesh.  The  quinnat  and  the  steel- 
head  are  preferred  for  the  fresh  trade  and  the  sockeye  for  canning. 
The  silver  salmon,  the  humpback,  and  the  dog  salmon  are  utilized  in 
various  ways,  but  whether  fresh,  salted,  or  canned  they  constitute  an 
inferior  grade  and  generally  sell  at  a  lower  price. 

W'th  the  variety  and  abundance  of  its  salmon  the  region  combines 
physical  characteristics  which  greatly  iuf^-rease  its  importance  as  a  pro- 
ducing district.  Its  rivers,  instead  of  emptying  ou  an  open  and  exposed 
coast,  have  between  them  and  the  ocean  a  large  an^\  quiet  sea,  with 
many  long  channels,  through  which  the  fish  must  pass  in  the  journey 
to  their  spawning-grounds.  The  advantages  of  this  intermediate  body 
are  two-fold,  in  that  it  greatly  enlarges  the  fishing  area  and  brings  the 
fish  of  every  species  in  striking  distance  while  still  in  the  salt  water, 
when  their  condition  is  certain  to  be  good.  With  these  unusual  opportu- 
nities for  following  up  the  schools  the  necessity  for  adequate  regulations 
must  be  manifest  to  all.  The  more  important  formn  are  naturally  most 
actively  and  persistently  sought  after,  leaving  the  others  somewhat  in 
reserve,  but  not  to  such  an  extent  as  the  general  accounts  might  lead 
one  to  suppose.  The  silver,  humpback,  and  dog  salmon  are  all  employed 
for  canning  on  the  United  States  side,  and  throughout  most  of  Puget 
Sound  proper  they  are  the  only  species  which  can  be  secured  in  suffi- 
cient quantity  for  that  purpose.  Any  system  of  protective  regulations 
should  therefore  contemplate  providing  for  the  welfare  of  the  entire 
salmon  group;  but  with  some  species  there  is  much  greater  urgency 
for  action  than  with  others. 

Among  the  salmon,  and  in  fact  among  all  the  fishes  of  the  region, 
the  sockeye  occupies  the  place  of  most  prominence.  While  it  holds 
this  position  primarily  by  virtue  of  the  deep  color  and  excellent  can- 
ning quality  of  its  flesh,  its  importance  is  equally  due  to  its  exceeding 
abundance,  greater  in  most  years  than  that  of  any  other  species  in  the 
localities  it  frequents,  to  its  regular  and  well-defined  movements,  and 
to  its  relatively  early  season,  which  insures  the  passage  of  most  of  the 
schools  past  the  fishing- grounds  quite  well  in  advance  of  the  spawning 


U^, 


FISHERIES    OF   WASHINGTON   AND   BRITISH   COLUMBIA.      335 


Pith  the 
f  a  few 
indards. 
tly  been 
urease  in 
festly  be 
nstauces 
There 
of  the 
ible  that 

follo'.fs : 

uuiiiiuer- 

(juality, 

he  steel- 

cauning. 

tilized  iu 

ititute  an 

combines 

as  a  pro- 
d  exposed 

sea,  with 
e  journey 
liate  body 
brings  the 
lalt  water, 
il  opportu- 
egulatious 
rally  most 
newhat  in 
night  lead 

employed 
;  of  Puget 
d  in  suffl- 
egulations 
the  entire 
ir  urgency 

;he  region, 
e  it  holds 
silent  can- 
exceeding 
cies  in  the 
nents,  and 
nost  of  the 
)  spawning 


period.  The  principal  disadvantage  under  which  the  species  labors 
arises  from  the  fact  that  its  spawning- grounds  are  almost  entirely 
restricted  to  two  rivers,  and  in  greater  part  to  one,  the  Fraser.  After 
entering  through  the  Strait  of  Juan  de  Fucaits  course  is  so  well  known 
and  its  presence  so  readily  detected  iu  many  favorable  localities  that  it 
is  compelled  to  run  the  gauntlet  of  a  very  active  and  persistent  fishery, 
which  is  stimulated  by  both  local  and  international  rivalry.  While  the 
movement  of  the  species  may  not  continue  over  five  or  six  weeks,  the 
amount  and  effectiveness  of  the  apparatus  employed  for  its  capture 
more  than  counterbalance  the  shortness  of  the  season.  Every  year 
adds  new  fishing  stations  and  increases  the  quantity  of  nets  about  the 
older  ones  at  a  rate  that  threatens  overfishing  at  an  early  period. 

While  the  main  body  of  the  sock  eye  passes  north  through  the  two 
channels  on  either  side  of  the  San  Juan  Islands,  no  noteworthy  fishing 
sites  had  been  discovered  south  of  Lummi  Island,  at  the  last  report. 
The  next  and  by  far  the  best  of  the  Washington  grounds  are  about 
Point  Eoberts,  the  principal  trap-net  locality,  where  the  question  of 
greatest  interest  is  to  determine  what  proportion  of  the  fish  moving 
about  the  point  strike  within  the  range  of  the  long  strings  of  nets.  The 
Canadian  fishery  is  concentrated  in  the  discolored  water  of  the  Fraser 
River  from  above  New  Westminster  to  some  distance  oft"  the  delta, 
where  the  conditions  are  such,  moreover,  that  the  entire  run  of  sockeye 
might  be  practically  wiped  out  by  an  extreme  multiplication  of  the  drift 
nets.  In  fact,  in  its  possession  of  the  Fraser  River  British  Oolumbia 
controls  the  main  situation  as  regards  this  species,  having  within  its 
power  the  means  of  inflicting  an  incalculable  amount  of  harm ;  while, 
on  the  other  hand,  the  preservation  of  the  sockeye  requires  the  concerted 
action  of  both  countries. 

The  conditions  are  more  serious  in  regard  to  the  run  of  sockeye 
which  passes  through  Skagit  Bay  and  into  the  river  of  the  same  name 
than  with  the  northern  run.  This  is  chiefly  due  to  the  narrow  and  shal- 
low character  of  the  bay,  which  permits  the  arrangement  of  a  close 
network  of  apparatus,  and  judging  from  late  accounts  the  fishery  there 
is  b  '.ng  pushed  with  great  persistency  and  with  little  thought  of  the 
future.  Any  and  all  kinds  of  nets  may  be  employed,  which,  in  a 
restricted  area,  is  a  great  misfortune,  and  in  other  ways  the  laws  are 
also  quite  inadequate. 

The  feature  of  periodicity  in  the  relative  size  of  the  annual  runs  of 
sockeye  is  of  great  interest,  and  its  causes  have  given  rise  to  much  con- 
jecture. Should  its  origin  have  been  due,  as  some  suppose,  to  local 
influences  affecting  the  cpecies  at  its  spawning-grounds,  it  would  point 
to  a  source  of  menace  in  that  connection,  but  time  has  shown  that  there 
is  little  occasion  for  anxiety  on  that  score,  and  if  the  efforts  now  being 
made  to  equalize  the  runs  through  artificial  propagation  turn  out  suc- 
cessfully, all  such  natural  dangers  will  be  minimized. 

A  much  more  important  phenomenon  is  the  great  mortality  which 
affects  nearly  all  salmon  at  spawning  time,  and  in  the  case  of  some 


■f 


i!    ! 


336       REPORT   OP   COMMISSIONER   OP    FISH   AND    FISHERIES. 

species  seetna  t3  work  an  almost  total  destruction,  the  sockeye  being 
one  of  the  heaviest  sufferers  iu  this  respect.  This  mortality  has  a  prac- 
tical significance  iu  that  if  none  of  the  ascending  fish  are  to  return 
again  to  the  sea  there  is  no  occasion  for  protecting  them  with  the  object 
of  saying  auy  for  subsequent  fishing  seasons,  and  all  that  need  be  done 
is  to  assure  a  sufficient  run  past  the  nets  to  provide  for  the  requisite 
amount  of  spawning. 

With  the  information  now  at  hand,  however,  no  measure  can  be  set 
upon  the  quantity  that  should  reach  the  spawning-grounds,  and  for 
some  time  at  least,  if  not  forever,  the  question  must  remain  entirely 
problematical,  the  only  safe  course  to  pursue  being  to  allow  the  widest 
margin  possible. 

The  quinnat  has  not  the  same  position  here  that  it  holds  on  the 
Columbia  Kiver,  in  consequence  of  its  being  apparently  less  abundant 
and  also  because  of  the  large  proportion  of  ofi'-colored  fish,  which  has 
ma<le  its  pursuit  less  active  than  would  otherwise  have  been  the  case. 
Nevertheless  it  ranks  us  the  most  important  species  for  the  fresh  market, 
for  which  purpose  it  is  principally  used,  its  employment  for  canning 
during  the  season  when  it  is  chiefly  taken  being  made  impracticable 
by  the  high  prices  which  then  prevail.  The  introduction  of  stock  from 
the  Columbia  River,  with  the  object  of  securing  a  larger  run  of  the 
dee])er- colored  fish,  was  contemplated  by  the  Canadian  government 
some  years  ago,  but  the  plans  were  never  carried  out.  The  experiment 
would  have  been  watched  with  keen  interest,  in  view  of  the  problem 
involved  as  to  whether  the  lighter  coloring  of  so  many  individuals  is 
simply  due  to  local  influences  which  might  also  affect  the  imported  fish. 

The  rapid  growth  of  the  fresh  trade  is  strongly  stimulating  the  fishery 
for  the  quinnat,  and  its  welfare  should  be  caiefully  looked  after  in  the 
salt  water  and  the  smaller  streams,  as  veil  as  in  the  larger  rivers  where 
its  pursuit  is  naturally  most  extensive. 

The  steelhead  is  also  chiefly  utilized  in  a  fresh  condition,  the  fishery 
being  mainly  a  winter  one  in  the  lakes  and  rivers,  although  catches  are 
made  at  other  seasons  and  to  some  extent  in  the  salt  waters.  Its  pre- 
daceous  tendencies  and  supposed  habit  of  feeding  on  the  young  salmon 
of  other  species  have  been  suggested  as  sufficient  reasons  for  denying 
it  all  proiection,  but  it  would  be  exceedingly  unwise  to  act  upon  this 
proposition  until  its  life-history  has  become  better  known.  In  British 
Columbia  the  general  provision  against  winter  fishing  for  any  of  the 
salmon  has  interfered  with  but  not  wholly  prevented  the  capture  of  this 
species  at  that  time  of  year.  The  circumstances  show  the  necessity  for 
regulating  its  fishery  on  a  different  basis  from  the  other  forms. 

Of  the  remaining  members  of  the  group  the  silver  salmon  is  the  most 
important  and  is  the  one  most  likely  t/O  be  drawn  upon  in  making  up 
a  shortage  in  the  cannery  pack  of  sockeye.  It  is  most  extensively 
utilized  south  of  the  boundary  line,  where  the  principal  catches  are 
obtained  by  means  of  purse  seines  iu  the  salt  water.    It  is  also  taken 


r 


^i 


T 


BS. 

iye  being 
as  a  prac- 
to  return 
the  object 
(I  be  done 
requisite 


8 


an  be  set 
and  for 
u  entirely 
he  widest 


ds  on  the 

abundant 

which  has 

II  the  case. 

sh  market, 

>r  canning 

iracticable 

stock  from 

run  of  the 

ovemment 

jxperiment 

le  problem 

lividuals  is 

ported  fish. 

the  fishery 

liter  in  the 

vers  where 

the  fishery 
matches  are 
1.  Its  pre- 
mg  salmon 
or  denying 
)  upon  this 
In  British 
any  of  the 
ture  of  this 
Jcessity  for 
ns. 

is  the  most 
naking  up 
ixtensively 
atches  are 
also  taken 


FlhHERIES   OP   WASHINGTON   AND   BRITISH    COLUMBIA.       337 

in  the  trap  nets,  when  left  out  late  enough  in  the  season,  and  by  other 
methods.  ^ 

While  the  humpback,  whose  appearance  is  strangely  confined  to  alter- 
nate years,  and  the  dog  salmon  have  a  lower  standing  than  the  fore- 
going, yet  they  are  of  sufficiently  good  quality  to  entitle  them  to  a  high 
rank  among  the  food-fishes  of  the  region.  Both  are  canned  to  some 
extent  in  Washington.  The  humpbacks  are  taken  in  large  quantities 
in  connection  with  the  later  runs  of  sockeye,  especially  in  the  trap-net 
fishery,  when  they  are  customarily  discarded,  but  not  until  after  they 
are  dead,  causing  an  extensive  waste. 

The  dog  salmon  seem  recently  to  be  meeting  with  increased  favor. 
Their  condition  is  said  to  be  excellent  as  long  as  they  remain  in  the 
salt  water,  which  is  for  a  considerable  period  aft^r  their  first  appear- 
ance, and  they  are  now  being  utilized  in  connection  with  the  fresh 
trade.  The  silver,  humpback,  and  dog  salmon,  like  the  quinnat,  spread 
to  all  parts  of  the  inclosed  sea  and  enter  most  streams,  even  those  of 
small  size.  With  this  wide  range  of  spawning- ground,  their  chances  of 
survival  are  much  greater  than  with  the  sockeye,  while  the  extensive 
area  over  which  they  must  be  sought  in  the  open-water  fishery  gives 
them  an  additional  advantage.  The  activity  of  their  pursuit,  however, 
is  certain  to  increase,  and  should  there  ever  be  a  decided  falling  off  in 
the  supply  of  sockeye  it  would  be  greatly  stimulated. 

It  will  be  observed,  therefore,  that  while  the  requirements  of  the 
sockeye  have  already  been  ascertained  with  some  degree  of  definite- 
ness,  much  uncertainty  exists  as  to  the  amount  of  protection  that  should 
be  accorded  the  other  species  at  the  present  time.  The  problem  they 
present  is  more  complex  as  a  whole  and  will  require  more  study  to 
unravel  the  details,  but  there  is  no  reason  to  suppose  that  it  may  not 
be  as  satisfactorily  dealt  with.  None  of  these  species,  unless  it  be  the 
quinnat  and  steelbead,  seems  to  be  in  immediate  danger,  and  if  the 
ordinary  precautious  which  should  be  taken  in  regard  to  any  salmon 
fishery,  such  as  safe-guarding  their  spawning,  be  immediately  enforced, 
detailed  regulations  in  respect  to  other  matters  can  possibly  await 
further  investigations,  if  not  too  long  delayed.  The  primary  requisite 
in  the  protection  of  salmon  is  that  they  shall  have  such  freedom  of 
access  to  their  spawning-grounds  as  will  insure  the  perpetuation  of  the 
species  without  decrease.  This  provided  for,  it  makes  little  difference, 
as  regards  the  welfare  of  the  species,  how  or  where  the  fishery  is 
carried  on. 

It  is  unfortunately  impossible  to  determine  what  proportion  of  any 
run  of  fish  may  safely  be  taken,  and  it  would  probably  be  impracticable 
to  utilize  that  information  were  it  obtainable.  While  theoretically  any 
disturbance  of  the  natural  supply  might  be  expected  to  cause  a  decrease, 
experience  teaches  that  a  certain  amount  may  be  removed  each  year 
without  appreciable  effect,  as  instanced  by  the  large  Indian  fishery  in 
this  region,  which  has  been  going  on  from  time  immemorial.    Between 

r  C  89 22  ' 


338       REPORT   OF   COMMISSIONER   OF    FISH    AND    FISHERIES. 


iP! 


^t      'I'll  I 
! 


the  practices  of  the  Indians  and  those  of  the  modern  flshormen,  however, 
the  difference  is  very  great,  and  it  is  with  the  latter  ^at  we  have  now 
to  deal.* 

Commercial  Ashing  for  salmon  has  become  extensive  in  this  region 
only  within  a  comparatively  short  period,  but  while  in  Oauada  it  has 
been  practically  restricted  to  drift  netting,  in  Washington  nearly  every 
form  of  apparatus  known  to  be  adapted  to  the  purpose  has  already 
oome  into  use.  Trap  nets  were  the  latest  to  be  introduced,  but  are  now 
recogniited  as  the  most  effective  kind  in  salt  water.  Purse  seines  came 
next  before  the  traps,  and  are  probably  to  be  considered  as  only  second 
to  them  in  importance.  Still  older  are  the  drag  seines  and  gill  nets, 
the  latter  employed  in  both  the  salt  and  fresh  water.  Uook-and-line 
fishing  is  one  of  the  minor  salt- water  methods,  applicable  only  to  the 
capture  of  the  quinnat  and  silver  salmon,  but  much  of  the  local  supply 
daring  some  seasons  is  obtained  by  this  means. 

The  Indians  still  use  their  reef  nets  along  the  route  of  the  sockeye, 
and  their  spears  and  dip  nets  in  the  upper  river  courses,  where  at  times 
they  also  build  a  small  and  rude  forpi  of  weir.  Wheels  have  been  tried 
in  one  place,  but  they  seem  unlikely  to  gain  a  foothold  here.  While 
in  principle  there  can  be  no  objection  to  the  employment  of  all  the 
legitimate  forms  of  apparatus,  the  Canadian  system  has  the  greater 
advantage  from  the  standpoint  of  protection,  in  that  a  much  simpler 
code  of  regulations  suffices.  It  is  to  be  borne  in  mind,  however,  that  the 
Washington  fishery  is  prosecuted  under  greater  diversity  of  conditions, 
and  to  restrict  it  along  a  single  line  would  mean  its  curtailment  many 
fold,  an  extreme  measure  which  would  not  be  justifiable. 

*  Since  this  paper  was  prepared  we  have  received  a  copy  of  the  report  of  the  State 
fish  commiBsioner  of  Washington  for  1898,  from  whicn  are  taken  the  following 
extracts  regarding  the  salmon  fishery  fur  1898  and  the  supposed  evidences  of  a 
decrease  in  certain  streams.  Should  the  Btatements  concerning  decreases  lie  well 
founded  the  necessity  for  decisive  action  by  the  authorit  's  of  Washington  is  more 
pressing  than  the  evidence  in  the  possession  of  the  writer  had  led  him  to  suppose: 

"  The  report  from  the  district  of  Paget  Sound  shows  a  still  more  marked  decrease 
in  the  output  in  the  salmon  fisheries  than  does  that  of  the  Columbia  River.  The 
enormous  run  o(  Fraser  River  salmon  during  the  season  of  1897  increased  the 
annual  output  of  this  district  to  a  remarkable  degree.  •  ■>  *  7]je  run  of  other 
classes  of  salmon  for  the  season  of  1897,  with  the  exception  of  the  Fraser  River 
fish,  was  not  materially  larger  than  in  former  years.  The  decrease  in  the  output  of 
the  past  season  is  entirely  in  the  early  runs  of  salmon.  The  fall  varieties  show  an 
increased  catch  over  the  year  1897.  The  increased  fall  output  was  largely  due  to 
the  shortage  of  the  spring  catch  and  energetic  work  on  the  part  of  the  fishermen 
and  canneries  to  make  up  for  the  spring  shortage  by  a  large  pack  of  the  fall 
varieties.  •  *  *  The  numerous  streams  tributary  to  Puget  Sound  have  in  years 
gone  by  teemed  with  what  seemed  to  be  an  inexiiaustibTe  supply  of  salmou,  and 
\.  hile  in  a  number  of  these  streams  the  supply  docs  not  seem  to  have  diminished 
materially,  in  many  of  them  there  has  been  a  wonderful  decline,  so  much  so  that 
complaints  during  this  season,  and  even  during  the  season  of  1897,  when  there  was 
a  phenomenal  run  of  sockeye  salmon  on  the  sound,  have  come  to  us  from  different 
localities  in  which  a  great  decrease  of  the  ran  of  fish  on  certain  streams  has  been 
noted.  Daring  the  oeason  we  have  examined  some  14  different  rivers  tributary  to 
the  sound,  with  a  view  to  better  understanding  the  conditions  prevailing  with  regard 
to  the  run  of  fish,  and  also  tor  locations  available  for  the  establishment  of  hatcheries. 
In  every  instance,  f^om  the  people  and  fishermen  living  along  the  streams,  has  come 
the  complaint  of  remarkable  decrease  in  the  run  of  salmon.  While  this  may  be 
attributed  to  some  extent  to  an  otl'  year,  ^et  we  find  that  during  the  season  of  1897 
very  much  the  same  conditions  prevailed  m  many  looalities." 


:s. 


FISHERIES   OF    WASHINGTON   AND   BRITISH   COLUMBIA.       339 


however, 
lavo  now 

is  region 

da  it  haH 

rly  every 

s  already 

t  are  now 

ines  came 

ly  Becond 

gill  nets, 

^-and-line 

nly  to  the 

al  supply 

3  sockeye, 
e  at  times 
3cen  tried 
e.  While 
of  all  the 
le  greater 
;h  simpler 
ir,  that  the 
londitions, 
aent  many 


of  the  State 
le  following 
deuces  of  a 
uses  be  well 
s^ton  is  more 
}  Huppose : 
ied  decrease 
River.  The 
creased  the 
ran  of  other 
'raser  River 
lie  oiitpnt  of 
bies  show  an 
rgely  due  to 
iie  fishermen 
of  the  fall 
tve  in  years 
salmon,  and 
I  dimiuished 
mch  HO  that 
m  there  was 
om  different 
uiB  has  been 
tributary  to 
with  regard 
f  hatcheries, 
as,  has  come 
bhis  may  be 
ason  of  1897 


Except  for  a  small  amount  of  hook-aiid-line-flshing  iu  the  salt  water, 
drift  gill  nets  are  the  only  appliances  allowed  in  the  commercial  flshery 
for  salmon  in  this  part  of  British  Columbia.  Their  use  is,  moreover, 
almost  entirely  contlned  to  the  lower  tidal  portion  of  the  Fiaser  Kiver 
and  that  part  of  the  Gulf  of  Georgia  immediately  adjacent  to  its 
mouths,  where  the  salmon  runs  are  very  much  more  extensive  thati 
elsewhere,  and  where  the  discolored  water  effectually  hides  the  twine 
during  most  of  the  open  season.  Although  there  is  room  for  the 
expansion  of  this  flshery  to  an  almost  unlimited  extent,  and  certainly 
to  the  imminent  danger  of  exhausting  its  resources — a  condition  which 
might  apply,  however,  to  any  effective  method  adapted  to  the  same 
surroundings — yet  the  simplicity  resulting  from  the  useof  only  a  single 
kind  of  net  makes  the  system  most  amenable  to  regulative  measures 
and  one  greatly  to  be  preferred.  For  the  drift  net,  as  compared  with  the 
trap  and  purse  seine,  the  benefit  is  also  claimed  of  dividing  the  fishery 
among  the  greatest  number  of  fishermen,  thus  providing  a  means  for' 
preventing  a  monopoly  of  the  work  by  the  larger  operators. 

Experience  has  shown  the  necessity  for  only  two  kinds  of  tneoe  nets, 
distinguished  solely  by  the  size  of  the  mesh — a  larger  one  for  the  quin- 
nat  and  a  smaller  one  for  the  sockeye  and  other  species  of  correspond- 
ing size.  The  former  may  be  employed  without  interfering  with  the 
smaller  salmon,  the  latter  without  taking  the  larger  forms,  and  thus  an 
opportunity  is  afforded  for  treating  the  two  groups  apart,  for  closing 
the  flshery  for  one  while  the  other  remains  in  season.  The  length  of 
the  net  in  both  classes  is  limited  by  law  to  160  fathoms,  and  the  depth, 
by  custom,  to  about  50  meshes.  These  dimensions  are  reasonable  and 
convenient  for  handling  by  the  small  boats  employed  in  their  use. 

Formerly  a  limitation  was  placed  upon  the  total  number  permissible 
in  the  Fraser  River  district,  which  up  to  1891  never  exceeded  500. 
Then  all  restrictions  of  this  character  were  removed,  and  every  bona- 
fide  fisherman  who  was  a  British  subject  and  a  resident  became  entitled 
to  a  license.  Canners  and  dealers  could  obtain  from  7  to  20  licenses 
apiece,  though  the  limit  to  canneries  was  reduced  in  1898  to  10.  The 
effect  of  this  modification  of  the  law  was  felt  at  once,  for  in  1892  the 
number  of  nets  increased  to  721,  and  in  1893  to  1,072,  in  1894  to  1,666, 
and  in  1895  to  1,733.  In  the  last-mentioned  year  the  total  length  of  the 
combined  nets  amounted  to  528,000  yards,  while  in  1896  it  had  reached 
800,000  yards.  The  principal  weakness  iu  the  Canadian  regulations  is 
in  regard  to  this  provision,  which  ^iractically  admits  of  an  unlimited 
extension  of  the  fishery.  The  claim  is  not  here  made  that  the  number 
of  nets  has  already  become  excessive,  though  possibly  it  has,  but 
extreme  watchfulness  is  necessary  to  keep  the  quantity  within  proper 
bounds.  A  part  of  the  recent  great  increase  in  the  nets  is  aiscribed  to 
the  hard  times  prevailing  in  connection  with  other  pursuits  which  has 
led  to  an  influx  of  many  inexperienced  flshermen,  whose  catch  is  said 
to  have  been  relatively  small.  The  power  exerted  by  the  large  amount 
of  netting  is  strikingly  illustrated  in  the  year  of  big  runs  of  sockeye, 


840       REPORT   OP  COMMIRftlONER   OP   FISH   AND   PISHERIEg. 


:i       I 


!i 


l! 


when  the  catch  becomes  enormous  and  sometimes  far  exceeds  the 
capacity  of  all  the  establishments— including  the  can nuries— concerned 
in  preparing  the  flsh  for  market.  Considering  the  shortness  of  the 
season,  the  si/e  of  the  fishery  is  all  the  more  remarkable. 

The  manner  of  using  the  nets  on  the  Fraser  Kiver  is  also  subject  to 
certain  regulations.  They  must  not,  for  instance,  obstruct  more  than 
one-third  the  width  of  the  river  and  must  be  kept  at  least  250  yards 
a])art.  These  measures  are  designed  to  maintain  an  open  passageway 
for  the  salmon,  in  which  they  are  protective,  and  also — the  latter  one  at 
least — to  prevent  one  fisherman  from  interfering  with  another.  In 
principle  they  are  correct,  and  they  would  also  be  good  in  practice, 
except  that  it  has  uoL  beeu  found  possible  to  earry  them  out  effectively, 
especially  since  the  nets  have  become  so  numerous.  Moving  (continu- 
ously as  they  do,  they  are  to  a  large  extent  uncontrollable,  while  the 
tendency  to  concentrate  the  flsliing  over  a  small  area  neai-  the  river 
mouths  leads  to  some  crowding.  In  some  places  tlir  river  channel  is 
not  large  enough  to  leave  two-thirds  of  its  width  free  when  the  net  is 
placed,  and  again  it  is  entirely  possible  to  alternate  tlie  nets  so  as  to 
virtually  negative  the  intent  of  the  law. 

Although  gill  nets  were  among  the  earlier  appliances  utilized  in 
Washington,  they  have  never  been  employed  there  as  extensively  or 
systematically  as  in  British  Columbia.  They  are  used  in  both  fresh  and 
salt  water,  either  set  or  drifting,  as  suits  the  pleasure  of  the  fishermen, 
and  are  subject  only  to  restrictions  gcvt  rniug  their  distance  apart  and 
the  width  of  the  river  which  they  tauy  occupy.  In  certain  places,  as 
in  Skagit  Bay  and  River,  they  have  liecome  a  prominent  feature,  and 
their  number  maybe  expected  to  iticie*se.  In  Skagit  Bay  competition 
with  the  trap  nets  has  engendered  an  intensely  bitter  feeling,  leading 
to  a  strenuous  though  ineffectual  effort  on  the  part  of  the  gill-netters 
to  secure  the  abolition  of  the  larger  nets. 

The  use  of  trap  nets  is  prohibited  in  British  Columbian  waters,  except 
in  the  upper  part  of  Boundary  Bay,  where  the  fish  taken  are  headed 
toward  the  neighboring  traps  across  the  line.  Within  the  past  few 
years  these  nets  have  become  a  prominent  feature  in  Washington, 
where  they  rank  as  the  most  effective  apparatus  employed  iu  the  salt 
water.  Their  introduction  had  special  reference  to  the  sockeye,  which 
had  previously  been  mainly  fished  for  in  sheltered  places  along  the 
shores  with  seines  and  gill  nets.  They  met  with  very  indifferent  suc- 
cess at  first,  but  experience  soon  dictated  the  necessary  changes  in 
construction  and  position  to  insure  good  catches.  The  earliest  trials 
were  made  at  Point  Roberts,  which  has  proved  to  be  by  far  the  most 
profitable  location  for  their  use,  and  where  their  number  has  always 
exceeded  the  total  number  elsewhere.  The  other  principal  fishing- 
grounds  are  near  Village  Point,  on  the  outer  side  of  Lnmmi  Island,  the 
southern  end  of  San  Juan  lisland,  and  Skagit  Bay,  all  lying  in  the 
pathway  of  the  sockeye  runs. 


/•! 


nyy 


B. 

Beds  the 
oiicerned 
18  of  the 

ubject  to 
lore  than 
50  yards 
SHageway 
ter  one  at 
ther.    In 

practice, 
tfVctively, 

(tuntinu- 
while  the 
the  river 
lihannel  is 
the  net  is 
»  so  as  to 

itilized  in 
snsively  or 
i  fresh  and 
fishermen, 
apart  and 
places,  as 
tature,  and 
ompetition 
ig,  leading 
gill-netters 

ers,  except 
iro  headed 
B  past  few 
ashington, 
in  the  salt 
eye,  which 
along  the 
Ferent  suc- 
shanges  in 
rliest  trials 
kT  the  most 
las  always 
>al  fishing- 
Island,  the 
ing  in  the 


PtSHRRIEa    OP    WAHHINGTON    AND    HRFTISII    COLUMBIA.       34l 

In  the  protection  of  this  species,  tlie  one  most  urgently  requiring 
sncli  attention,  the  trap  nets,  therefore,  figure  most  conspicuously  and 
the  importance  of  fixing  their  proper  limitations  will  very  readily  be 
appreciated.  With  suitable  restrictions  upon  the  manner  of  their 
employment,  the  greatest  danger  lies  in  the  tendency  to  multiply  their 
number  unduly,  and  in  this  direction  there  is  reason  to  fear  that  much 
harm  may  soon  be  done.  The  trap  nets  are  mostly- located  in  exposed 
positions,  where  it  is  necessary  to  construct  them  of  unusual  strength, 
but  in  spite  of  this  precaution  they  seldom  last  a  single  season  without 
repair.  They  are  consequently  expensive  to  build  and  operate,  which 
places  them  beyond  the  means  of  the  ordinary  fishermen,  and  are  in 
fact  almost  exclusively  run  by  the  canneries  or  directly  for  them.  In 
size  they  generally  much  exceed  the  pound  nets  of  the  Great  Lakes, 
after  which  they  were  originally  patterned,  aiid,  with  tiie  improvements 
recently  introduced,  are  certain  of  securing  large  catches  whenever  the 
Bockeye  are  abundant.  Thus  perfected,  they  have  greatly  cheapened 
the  cost  of  capture  and  produced  a  sharp  competition  with  tlie  gill-net 
interests  on  the  Fraser  liiver  as  well  as  in  Skagit  Bay.  The  efforts 
made  by  the  gill-netters  in  the  latter  locality  to  secure  the  prohibition 
of  trap-net  fishing  throughout  the  Puget  Sound  region  had  apparently 
no  reference  to  the  preservation  of  the  salmon,  but  seem  to  have  been 
directed  solely  against  the  larger  fisheries,  to  which  the  great  pros- 
perity of  the  region  in  recent  years  has  undoubtedly  been  chiefly  due. 

The  number  of  trap  nets  that  might  safely  be  allowed  in  connection 
with  the  sockeye  fishery  depends  upon  inforniation  not  yet  available. 
It  was  not  supposed  that  there  were  too  many  in  1895,  when  they  were 
last  studied,  but  a  very  large  increase  has  taken  ])lace  since  then  and 
the  limit  of  safety  may  have  been  passed.  The  danger  is  most  immi- 
nent in  Skagit  Bay,  where  the  run  of  sockeye  is  much  smaller  than 
toward  the  Fraser  Eiver,  and  where  the  opportunities  for  establishing 
trap  nets  are  exceptionally  good.  In  this  narrow  and  shallow  area 
these  devices,  supplemented  by  other  forms  of  apparatus,  may  readily 
be  so  multiplied  as  practically  to  barricade  the  way  toward  the  river, 
preventing  not  only  the  sockeye  but  the  silver  salmon  as  well  from 
reaching  their  spawning-grounds,  and  virtually  breaking  up  the  runs  in 
this  locality. 

If,  as  claimed,  scarcely  any  young  salmon  are  ever  taken  in  the  traps, 
the  question  of  the  size  of  mesh  is  not  material,  unless  it  be  in  the 
interest  of  other  and  smaller  fishes  which  may  be  caught  in  the  same 
connection,  but  regarding  which  we  have  received  no  positive  informa- 
tion. The  mesh  should  certainly  not  measure  less  than  3  inches  in  the 
crib  and  6  inches  in  the  leaders.  A  somewhat  larger  size  could  prob- 
ably be  employed  without  detriment  to  the  salmon  catch,  but  floating 
seaweed  is  abundant  in  the  region  and  the  larger  the  openings  the  more 
readily  these  weeds  become  attached  to  the  net,  weighing  it  down  and 
closing  the  meshes.    The  size  of  the  crib  is  of  practically  little  impor- 


842       REPORT  OP   COMMISSIONER   OP   FISH   AND   PI8HERIE8. 


I  !{ 


i    1 


i'  ' 


!  P 


!   ii 


I 


tance  compared  with  the  length  of  the  leader  and  the  scope  of  the  wings, 
by  which  the  capacity  of  the  net  is  chiefly  to  be  measured,  because 
however  large  the  crib  may  be  it  will  oaly  receive  the  fish  which  are 
directed  toward  its  opening.  Two  thousand  feet  is  as  great  a  length 
as  should  ever  be  allowed  for  the  leader,  and  in  some  locations  this 
would  be  excessive.  It  may  also  be  found  advisable  to  limit  the  size  of 
the  wings,  for  they  are  practically  only  adjuncts  of  the  leader  and  of  great 
efl'ectiveness. 

But  however  important  it  is  to  restrict  the  size  of  the  nets,  it  is  still 
more  important  to  regulate  their  arrangement  or  relations  to  one 
another  when  several  are  fished  in  the  same  place.  It  is  a  common 
practice  in  many  localities  to  join  such  nets  in  a  string  of  from  two  up, 
according  to  the  width  of  bottom  suited  to  the  purpose.  Pound  nets 
on  Lake  Erie  have  been  thus  combined  to  cover  a  distance  of  even  8  or 
10  miles  without  a  single  break.  The  longest  string  in  the  Puget 
Sound  region  in  1895  consisted  of  three  nets  at  Point  Koberts,  which 
extended  off  from  the  beach  somewhat  over  a  mile.  The  effect  of  this 
arrangement  is  evident.  Over  the  width  which  the  string  occupies 
substantially  every  salmon  corhing  toward  it  is  destined  to  become 
entrapped.  There  is  little  chance  for  any  to  escape  and  a  very  poor 
showing  for  succeeding  traps  near  at  hand.  Again,  though  they  be 
not  in  strings,  they  may  so  alternate  in  position  that  the  salmon  which 
pass  one  net  strike  directly  against  the  leader  of  another.  Thus  t'le 
interests  of  the  fishery  demand,  where  a  number  of  nets  are  operated 
near  together,  that  their  distribution  be  so  fixed  as  to  permit  a  fair 
pro])ortion  of  the  salmon  to  work  their  way  from  among  them.  Other- 
wise, with  the  rapid  multiplication  of  traps  which  is  going  on,  a  time 
may  come  when  the  progress  of  the  salmon  will  be  so  barred  at  inter- 
vals as  to  prevent  their  ever  reaching  the  Fraser  or  Skagit  rivers. 
This  i^t  least  applies  to  the  fish  which  skirt  the  shores,  and  it  seems 
reasonable  to  sui)pose  that  a  large  share  do  so  at  one  point  or  another. 
In  any  event,  it  would  be  quite  injudicious  to  subject  too  large  a  pro- 
portion of  the  fish  to  capture  at  any  t^iugle  place.  The  matter  may  be 
definitely  regulated  by  statute  as  regards  the  strings,  but  in  respect  to 
the  alternating  arrangement  a  consideration  of  local  conditions  may  be 
required  in  each  case. 

The  opi)ortunities  are  few  for  a  lineal  arrangement  on  the  Washing- 
ton coast,  and  it  is  doubtful  if  any  string  could  be  adva  itageously 
extended  beyond  the  distance  given  for  the  long  line  off  Point  lioberts. 
It  was  suggested  by  the  Joint  Fisheries  Commission  in  1896,  however, 
that  the  proper  limit  has  there  been  exceeded,  and  that  no  more  than 
two  nets,  with  leaders  not  over  2,000  feet  long  in  f»ach,  should  be  allowed 
in  any  string.  Between  the  two  nets,  moreover,  there  should  be  an 
opening,  a  means  of  escape  for  a  part  of  tiio  sal.nou,  and  a  passageway 
for  boats.  Its  minimum  width  in  tho  regulations  submitted  was  placed 
at  100  feet.  It  would  be  better  to  make  it  500  or  GOO  feet.  And  it  was 
further  provided  that  the  inner  end  of  any  leader  should  never  come  into 


yi 


:Mi 


e  wiugs, 
because 
bich  are 
a  lengtb 
ons  tbis 
e  size  of 
d of great 

it  is  still 
to  one 
common 
a  two  up, 
und  nets 
even  8  or 
le  Paget 
'ts,  which 
ct  of  this 
occupies 
o  become 
very  poor 
they  be 
Qou  which 
Thus  tbe 
3  operated 
rmit  a  fair 
u.    Other- 
ou,  a  time 
1  at  inter- 
git  rivers. 
I  it  seems 
»r  another, 
irge  a  pro- 
;er  may  be 
respect  to 
)us  may  be 

Washing- 
itageously 
t  Uoberts. 
,  however, 
more  than 
be  allowed 
uld  be  an 
issageway 
fas  placed 
Lnd  it  was 
'  come  into 


FISHERIES   OP   TVASHINGTON    AND    BRITISH   COLUMBIA.       343 

a  less  depth  than  1  fathom  at  low  tide.  Laterally  successive  iiets  should 
be  separated  by  at  least  2,500  feet,  approximately  half  a  mile.  The 
greater  the  distance  in  this  respect  the  less  are  the  evils  to  be  expected 
from  any  alternating  arrangement. 

By  the  act  of  1897  the  legislature  of  Washington  recognized  the  jus- 
tice of  these  requirements.  Besides  prohibiting  the  use  of  trap  nets 
and  other  fixed  appliances  in  rivers  or  within  3  miles  of  their  mouths, 
as  well  as  in  Deception  Pass  and  in  water  of  greater:  depth  than  05  feet, 
i>u8  law  limitij  the  length  of  leaders  to  2,500  feet  and  provides  for 
an  end  passageway  between  all  traps  of  at  leasi  000  feet  and  a  lateral 
passageway  of  at  least  2,400  feet. 

The  purse  seines,  though  very  unlike  the  trap  nets',  are  nevertheless  to 
be  classed  with  them  as  having  great  individual  scope  and  requiring  a 
considerable  outlay  for  their  operation.  They  are  chiefly  fished  in  the 
upper  part  of  Puget  Sound  for  the  \a,U  r-running  species,  especially  the 
silver  salmon,  of  which  they  take  enormous  quantities.  Elsewhere  they 
are  not  much  utilized,  and  in  connection  with  the  sockeye  fishery  thoy 
cut  no  figure,  although  sometimes  set  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  traps 
at  Point  Roberts.  The  purse  seine  fishery  has  not  been  sufficiently 
studied  to  determine  how  far  it  should  be  restricted,  but  the  important 
part  played  by  these  nets  in  the  removal  of  salmon  firom  the  ftaifc  water 
and  the  almost  certain  future  increase  in  their  number  make  it  desirable 
that  the  subject  be  thoroughly  considered.  Their  use  is  now  prohibited 
within  3  miles  of  the  mouth  of  any  river. 

The  drag  seine  was  one  of  the  earliest  appliances,  if  not  the  first, 
employed  in  this  region  for  tsLlng  salmon,  and  its  use  has  been  con- 
tinued and  increased.  The  fishery  by  this  means,  however,  is  mostly 
scattered  and  irregular,  being  mainly  conducted  on  a  small  scale  in 
liiuerent  places  to  meet  local  wants.  In  some  localities  more  exten- 
sive operations  are  carried  on,  as  about  the  mouths  of  the  larger  rivers 
at  the  period  when  the  salmon  begin  to  enter,  and  in  certain  pai  ts  of 
Puget  3ound  to  supply  the  canneries  with  fall  fish.  Some  fishery 
experts  regard  the  drag  seine  with  unqualified  disfavor  under  all  con- 
ditions, but  this  universal  condemnation  is  far  from  merited.  While 
they  may  possibly  be  hauled  eurreptitiously  :  itber  more  easily  than 
most  other  kinds  of  nets,  within  proper  limitations  their  use  is  quite  as 
legitiiuate,  and  to  abolish  them  here  would  be  to  deprive  the  inhabitants 
of  thinly  settled  shores  of  one  of  theur  most  ready  means  of  securing 
food.  They  are  not  now  permitted  to  be  hauled  in  any  river  or  within 
a  mile  of  its  mouth  outside. 

The  primitive  reef  nets  which  well  answered  the  requirements  of  the 
Indians,  although  now  used  for  commercial  purposes,  are  rapidly  going 
out  of  use,  and  before  many  years  they  will  doubtless  cease  to  figure 
among  the  methods  of  the  region.  With  an  exceedingly  limited  scope 
at  the  best,  no  occasion  exists  for  giving  them  oousideratiou  iu  connec- 
tion with  any  scheme  of  regulations. 


■■■I 


344        REPORT   OF   COMMISSIONER   OF   FISH    AND   FISHERIES. 

Only  the  quinnat  and  silver  salmon  take  the  bait  in  salt  water  and 
are  fished  for  by  hook  and  line,  and  this  occars  on  altogether  too  small 
a  scale  to  merit  attention  fror^  the  standpoint  of  legislation.  In  fi'esh 
water  the  steelbead  is  the  only  species  which  might  be  caught  in  the 
same  manner,  but  we  are  not  informed  to  what  extent  it  is  so  obtained, 
if  at  all. 

The  well-known  practice  of  spearing  salmon  in  the  upper,  shallow 
waters  of  a  river,  long  followed  by  the  Indians,  has  also  been  taken  up 
by  the  whites,  and  in  some  sections  is  extensively  resorted  to  by  bot'. 
for  domestic  purposes,  as  well  as  for  making  local  sales  among  thi 
settlers.  With  salmon  as  abundant  as  they  are  at  present,  t^e  danger 
from  this  source  is  much  less  than  on  the  salmon  rivers  in  the  east, 
whore  this  method  is  enjoined.  In  at  least  some  localities,  however, 
the  practice  should  be  limited  and  possibly  forbidden,  this  being  espe- 
cially the  case  with  reference  to  those  streams  in  which  the  sockeye 
and  quinnat  spawn.  It  i»  also  generally  so  near  the  spawning  time 
before  this  method  becomes  eft'ective  that  the  fish  so  taken  are  not  in 
the  best  condition  for  food,  being  unsuited  for  canning  or  the  market 
trade.* 

Fishing  has  always  been  one  of  the  chief  occupations  of  tJie  Indians, 
one  of  their  principal  means  of  securing  food.  Though  of  the  wilder- 
ness, as  the  salmon  themselves,  and  making  use  of  crude  appliances, 
their  catches  have  nevertheless  been  large,  and  yet  have  seemed  tx) 
produce  no  appreciable  effect  upon  the  abundance  of  the  supply.  Thus 
the  advent  of  the  whites  found  the  fishery  stock  intact,  so  far  as  can 
be  told.  The  Indians  have  greatly  diminished;  of  the  remnants  many 
have  been  changed  by  civi.Uzation  into  commercial  fishermen,  employ- 
ing for  that  purpose  the  old-time  reef  nets,  gill  nets,  seines,  and  hooks 
and  lines,  to  all  of  which  reference  has  just  been  made.  Those  which 
still  hold  to  the  primitive  methods  of  fishing  for  their  own  needs,  chiefly 
in  the  upper  psxta  of  rivers,  are  con)paratively  few.  Their  apparatus 
consists  of  spears,  dip  nets,  and  weirs,  the  last  being  a  crude  form  of 
trap,  which,  though  not  extensively  employed,  can  be  so  placed  as 
practically  to  bar  the  entrance  to  important  spawning  grounds.  The 
spear  has  already  been  discussed;  the  dip  net  occupies  a  «•;  lively 
inconspicuous  position  from  the  standpoint  of  its  catch. 

While  under  the  original  conditions  the  use  of  these  several  met>^ods 
to  the  fullest  extent  required  by  tho  Indians  mav  hav^;  c.ui'is  -l  j)o  harm, 
with  the  heavy  market  fishery  now  in  progress  it  z\-M>y  be  no*  »-^?ary  to 
impose  some  limitations.  The  steady  drain  near  tihe  m<)t'i.us  of  the 
principal  rivers  makes  it  important  that  those  salmon  wtiiiib  reach  the 
upper  waters  should  be  interfered  with  as  little  as  possible.    The  use 

*  B.'  the  act  of  March  13, 1899,  it  is  made  unlawful  to  fish  for  saliuon  by  any  meana 
except  aoKling  above  tide  water  in  the  Nooksat'k,  Skngit  (up  to  the  town  of  Hamil- 
ton), Stilfagaamish,  Snohomish,  White,  NeHqnally,  and  Skokomish  rivers.  The 
State  flsh  oommissioner  may  also  close  to  flsbine  any  stream  or  river  of  Washington 
emptying  into  Puget  Sound  whenever  he  shall  consider  that  the  protection  of  iti 
food-fishea  require  it. 


IB 


fi. 


ES. 


FISHERIES  OP  WASHINGTON   AND   BRITISH   COLUMBIA.       345 


water  and 

too  small 

lu  ftesh 

ht  in  the 

obtained, 

ir,  shallow 
taken  up 
to  by  bot! 
imong  tki 
>^e  danger 
the  east, 
however, 
>eing  espe- 
he  sockeye 
nrning  time 
1  are  not  in 
the  maiket 

he  Indians, 
the  wilder- 
appliances, 
)  seemed  to 
jply.  Thus 
»  far  as  can 
nants  many 
ten,  employ- 
>,  and  hooks 
Dhose  which 
eeds,  chiefly 
r  apparatus 
rude  form  of 

0  placed  as 
junds.  The 
a  .eii).'"ively 

ral  met^'ods 
r-'l  jio  harm, 
u«jc  »-^?ary  to 
c'cus  of  the 
jb  reach  the 
le.    The  use 

by  any  meana 
)wu  of  Haiuil- 

1  rivers.  The 
>f  Waahineton 
oteotiou  of  its 


of  the  weir  at  least  should  be  entirely  prohibited,  as  has  been  done  in 
British  Oolumbia.  It  is  important  U>  note  in  this  connection  that  the 
Indians  have  been  guaranteed  certain  treaty  rights  which  should  be 
respected.  They  are  fast  yielding  to  civilization ;  their  power  for  harm 
is  already  iulinitesimal  when  compared  with  the  whites,  and  seems 
likely  soon  to  cease  altogether.  In  Washington  no  restrictions  are 
put  upon  the  Indians  in  flshii;^  to  supply  their  own  needs.  In  British 
Columbia  they  are  permitted  to  take  salmon  for  their  own  use  by  their 
customary  methods,  aside  from  the  weirs,  at  any  time  and  anywhere 
except  on  the  spawning-grounds.  In  respect  to  the  last  provision 
many  violation'.^  are  reported  and  require  attention.  In  all  commercial 
fishing  they  are  subject  to  the  same  regulations  as  the  whites. 

While  suitable  regulations  as  to  the  character  and  manner  of  using 
the  different  kinds  of  apparatus  might  be  expected  to  provide  for  the 
escape  of  a  sufficient  number  of  fish  to  cover  all  the  requirements  for 
spawning,  yet  in  practice,  and  this  holds  true  especially  with  the  sal- 
mon, it  has  been  found  essential  to  supplement  the  restriodons  already 
referred  to  by  a  total  cessation  of  fishing  during  more  or  less  of  the 
period  when  the  fish  are  running.  The  laws  of  Canada  seem  quite 
ample  in  this  respect,  but  in  Washington  the  matter  has  not  been  fairly 
treated.  Although  the  need  of  such  regulations  may  not  appear 
nnportant  while  the  supply  of  salmon  continues  large,  yet  we  can  not 
qat  siion  the  benetlta  alre.ady  derived  from  the  measures  of  this  kind 
^r'.f<  reed  ou  the  Fraser  River,  and  urge  their  early  adoption  elsewhere 
u   ^  16  of  the  surest  means  of  maintaining  the  supply  of  the  choicer 

I'L ..  most  suitable  periods  for  the  close  times  and  their  proper  dura- 
tion give  rise  in  this  regior  to  questions  of  so7ae  perplexity.  Had  we 
to  deal  with  only  a  single  ppecieft,  '>r  at  the  mrst  with  two  differ ing  so 
much  in  size  and  season  as  the  qnlnnat  and  the  sockeye,  there  would 
be  little  trouble  in  reaching  a  satisfactory  j,rrangemeut,  bat  with  six 
species  appearing  at  su  no'^ssively  later  periods  and  yet  overlapping, 
sometimes  quite  markedly,  in  their  runs,  many  difficulties  are  presented. 
The  time  meet  commonly  selected  for  the  salmon  is  toward  the  close  of 
the  run,  when  it  has  the  additional  advantage  of  preventing  their 
u&p  ure  and  sale  when  they  are  in  <he  least  acceptable  condition  for 
food.  Doubt  has  often  been  expressed  as  to  whether  this  protection  of 
the  later-running  fish  is  of  any  benefit  to  the  earlier  runs  of  succeeding 
years,  on  the  supposition  that  salmon  run  at  the  same  time  and  to  pre- 
cisely tht  same  places  as  their  progenitors,  but  until  these  questions 
have  been  more  positively  decided  there  seems  to  be  no  reason  why  the 
customary  practice  should  not  continue. 

In  British  Columbia  the  subject  is  very  much  simplified  by  the  facts 
that  the  commercial  fishery  is  directed  mainly  toward  the  quinnat  and 
sockeye  and  is  restricted  to  a  single  method.  The  larger  mesh  of  the 
quionat  drift  nets  can  be  used  through  the  sockeye  season  without 


mm 


846       BEFOBT  OF   COMMISSIONEB  OF  FISH  AND  FIBHEBIE8. 


interfering  with  the  latter  species,  and  the  reverse  is  true  with  reganl 
to  the  smaller  mesh  adapted  to  the  sockeye.  Thas  a  close  season  may 
be  arranged  for  one  species  while  fishing  for  the  other  still  goes  on. 
According  to  the  existing  Canadian  regulations  the  smaller-meshed 
nets  mast  be  withheld  from  the  water  from  Angast  25  until  Septem 
ber  25  of  each  y^  r^  when  the  sockeye  have  ceased  running  and  only 
later  species  can  i  j  ,    From  October  31,  again,  until  July  1  of  the 

following  year  thei:  iployment  is  entirely  prohibited.  Between 
August  25  and  Septemuer  25  protection  is  afforded  the  latte\  Iialf  of 
the  humpback  run  and  the  early  part  of  the  silver  «lblmon  run,  while 
the  dog  salmon,  being  still  plentiful  after  October  31,  enjoys  the  benefit 
of  the  long  close  season,  which  continues  through  the  winter:  The  open 
season  for  the  large-meshed  nets  is  from  March  1  to  September  15,  and 
thus  only  the  very  beginniag  and  the  closing  part  of  the  quinnat  runs 
are  free  of  any  interference  from  the  nets. 

In  Washington  the  variety  of  apparatus  makes  the  adjustment  of 
close  times  quite  difficult  to  docide.  The  trap  net  is  omnivorous,  taking 
whatever  comes  its  way,  but  being  generally  utilized  only  for  the  sock- 
eye, it  has  commonly  had  little  relation  to  other  species.  The  drag 
and  purse  seines,  while  better  adapted  for  some  species  than  for  others, 
can  be  considered  as  selective  only  as  their  use  may  be  directed  toward 
the  schools  of  one  variety  or  another,  and  are  mainly  employed  in  the 
late  summer  and  the  fall.  When  the  sockeye  run  is  small  the  trap  nets 
may  be  continned  in  place  for  the  purpose  cf  taking  other  species,  and 
the  rapid  increase  in  the  fishery  will  doubtless  tend  to  their  employment 
during  a  greater  part  of  the  year  than  has  heretofore  been  customary. 

Just  how  a  close-time  measure  should  be  framed  so  as  to  benefit  all 
the  species  under  these  complex  conditions  is  a  matter  requiring 
further  and  careful  study,  especially  as  the  main  part  of  the  fishery  is  so 
essentially  a  salt-water  one.  It  is  to  be  assumed  that  such  a  scheme  is 
practicable  and  it  is  further  to  be  hoped  that  steps  may  soon  be  taken 
toward  its  realization,  but  in  the  meantime  the  interests  of  the  sockeye 
and  quinnat  should  not  be  allowed  to  sufTer.  Close  seasons  could 
readily  be  arranged  for  each  of  those  species  in  both  the  salt  and  fresh 
waters  and  they  should  at  once  be  instituted.  Washington  has  no 
close-time  regulations  whatsoever  applicable  to  the  salt  water.  On  the 
rivers  fishing  is  stopped  during  April  and  again  from  October  1  to 
November  15.*  Only  the  quinnat  could  be  benefited  by  this  first  clow* 
season,  and  the  silver  and  dog  salmon  by  the  second.  The  latter  part 
of  both  the  sockeye  and  quinnat  runs  should  certainly  be  protected  by 
regulations  fully  as  comprehensive  as  those  in  force  in  British  Columbia, 
and  it  would  be  better  if  the  close  time  for  the  quinnat  should  begin 
at  even  an  earlier  date  than  there. 

Some  of  the  diflSculties  presented  by  the  annual  close  times  may  be 
overcome  by  the  introduction  of  shorter  x>eriods  of  rest  at  intervals 


*  By  act  of  1890  the  lattor  oloae  season  extend*  ftom  October  15  to  November  16. 


IE8. 


FISHERIES   OP   WASHINGTON   AND   BRITISH   COLUMBIA.       347 


ith  re^^ard 
eason  may 
ill  goes  on. 
ler-mesbed 
til  Septem- 

and  only 
Uylofthe 

Between 
tev  Iialf  of 
run,  while 
the  benefit 

The open 
ber  15,  and 
innat  runs 

nstment  of 

oas,  taking 

>r  the  sock- 

The  drag 

for  others, 
ted  toward 
>yed  in  the 
le  trap  nets 
pecies,  and 
imployment 
customary. 

benefit  all 
•  requiring 
Ssliery  is  so 
1  scheme  is 
m  be  taken 
^he  sockeye 
sons  could 
t  and  fresh 
on  has  no 
ir.    On  the 
itober  1  to 
)  first  clos4* 
latter  part 
otected  by 
Columbia, 
)nld  begin 

les  may  be 
;  intervals 

rambarlS. 


during  the  salmoc  season.  This  measure  is  not  suggested  as  a  substi- 
tute for  the  other,  but  as  supplemental  to  it  and  of  great  additional 
benefit.  It  is  provided  for  in  British  Oolumbia,  where  all  net  fishing 
is  stopped  by  law  during  the  thirty-six  hours  from  6  a.  m.  on  Saturday 
to  6  p.  m.  on  Sunday  of  every  week.  The  special  advantages  of  thi» 
weekly  close  time  are  several.  It  assures  the  ascent  to  theii'  spawning- 
grounds  of  fish  of  the  same  species  at  different  periods  during  the 
entire  season,  thus  meeting  the  objection  raised  against  the  fall  close 
time  as  protective  only  of  the  later  runs.  There  is  likely  to  be  consid- 
erable variation  in  the  duration  of  the  season,  which,  in  the  case  of  the 
sockeye  at  least,  may  end  before  the  date  appointed  for  the  fall  close 
time.  The  weekly  periods  make  up  for  this  discrepancy  and  also  afford 
fishermen  a  regular  period  of  rest  from  their  work,  which  in  the  case 
of  those  who  are  in  the  regular  employ  of  large  establishments  is  not 
unwelcome,  especially  if  it  falls  mainly  upon  Sunday,  as  is  customary. 

The  extension  of  such  a  regulation  to  the  waters  of  the  State  of 
Washington,  so  far  as  this  can  be  done  advisedly,  is  strongly  to  be 
recommended.  The  measure  is  most  important  in  respect  to  the  sock- 
eye, and  its  utility  is  most  evident  on  the  rivers,  where  the  salmon  are 
pressing  rapidly  toward  their  spawning-grounds.  In  even  the  salt 
waters  the  sockeye  move  so  quickly  along  their  defined  course  that  a 
weekly  close  time  in  their  interest  should  be  favorably  regarded.  The 
inner  salt  waters  are  to  them  apparently  almost  a  continuation  of  the 
rivers  in  which  their  spawning- grounds  occur.  A  period  of  thirty-six 
hours  may  be  too  short  to  permit  the  fish  some  distance  out  in  the  sea  to 
pass  the  upper  limit  of  the  nets,  and  it  may,  upon  farther  inqui''y,  be 
found  advisable  t<t  begin  the  close  time  somewhat  earlier  in  the  salt 
water,  but  even  should  it  for  the  present  be  made  uniform  throughout, 
it  is  scarcely  to  be  doubted  that  the  relative  number  of  fish  that  reach 
the  spawning-grounds  would  be  increased.  There  is  some  question  as 
to  the  benefits  to  be  gained  by  other  species  through  a  measure  of  this 
kind,  as  most  of  them  at  least  remain  in  the  inner  se?  for  a  longer  time 
than  the  sockeye,  and  some  for  quite  a  period,  as  in  the  case  of  the 
quinnat.  They  should  undoubtedly  be  so  protected  in  the  rivers  and 
about  the  mouths  of  the  rivers. 

The  close-time  question  with  reference  to  the  steelhead  requires  to  be 
considered  apart  from  the  other  species,  in  consequence  of  the  fact  that 
its  movements  and  spawning  take  place  at  quite  a  different  season. 
The  growing  demand  for  the  species  and  the  opportunities  for  its  capture 
in  the  fresh  water  during  a  long  period  make  it  very  important  that  its 
welfare  be  not  neglected  from  this  standpoint. 

In  a  new  region,  where  existing  conditions  have  favored  so  bounteous 
a  supply  o"  salmon,  it  is  quite  unnecessary  to  consider  for  the  present 
whether  their  ascent  is  anywhere  impeded  by  natural  obstructions.  The 
introduction  of  fish  ways  or  the  clearing  away  of  barriers  might  in  some 
localities  open  up  new  spawning-grounds,  and  such  measures  may 


348       REPORT  OF  COMMISSIONER  OF   FISH   AND   FISHERIES. 


in  time  be  called  for,  bat  the  gain  would  scarcely  be  realized  while  the 
salmon  remain  as  abundant  as  they  are,  and  the  expenditure  required 
would  be  considerable. 

Of  artificial  impediments,  aside  from  the  nets,  .there  appear  to  be  few 
in  any  of  the  fresh  waters,  and,  in  fact,  no  complaints  of  such  have 
reached  the  writer.  The  building  of  dams  in  the  pathway  of  the  fish 
should  be  prevented  as  far  as  possible,  and  if  any  are  allowed  they 
should  have  openings  of  ample  size  to  permit  the  passage  of  the 
immense  schools  which  ascend  these  streams.  On  many  of  the  Atlantic 
rivers  much  harm  has  been  done  the  salmon  by  the  rubbish  from  saw- 
mills passing  into  the  water,  a  practice  which  has  been  followed  here 
to  some  extent.  The  prohibition  against  it  in  British  Columbia  is  said 
to  be  enforced,  but  in  Washington  and  especially  on  the  Skagit  Biver, 
if  the  reports  be  true,  the  sawdust  and  other  refuse  have  been  dumped 
into  the  water  so  extensively  in  places  as  to  threaten  serious  injury. 
As  this  material  can  readily  be  disposed  of  on  land  by  burning  or 
otherwise,  there  is  no  excuse  for  continuing  the  custom. 

There  seem  at  present  to  be  no  sources  of  general  pollution,  sujh  as 
the  drainage  from  large  communities,  which  need  to  be  considered 
from  a  fishery  standpoint,  but  they  are  likely  to  appear  with  the 
increase  of  population.  The  same  is  true  regarding  obnoxious  waste 
products  from  extensive  factories  except  in  one  particular,  resulting 
from  the  fisheries  themselves.  This  exception  is  furnished  by  the  sal- 
mon canneries  in  consequence  of  the  immense  amount  of  offal  which 
they  produce  and  which  is  customarily  thrown  into  tl  water.  In 
Washington  the  canneries  are  all  located  on  salt  water  and  their  offal 
gives  no  trouble,  as  it  disappears  quickly  and  entirely.  It  is  different 
on  the  Fraser  Biver,  where  the  many  canneries  are  mostly  collected 
near  its  mouth. 

Several  measures  looking  toward  the  disposition  of  waste  materials 
without  detriment  to  any  interest  have  been  adopted  by  the  Canadian 
government,  tut  none  has  long  been  enforced,,  the  remedies  being 
ineffectual  in  some  cases  and  impracticable  in  others.  Offal  carried 
out  to  the  gulf  and  dumped  off'  the  mouths  of  the  river  is  liable  to  be 
washed  ashore,  while  its  manufacture  into  oil  and  fertilizer  on  a  large 
scale  has  heretofore  proved  unsuccessful.  The  old  practice  of  allowing 
it  to  fall  into  the  water  of  the  river  in  a  fresh  condition  as  fast  as  it  is 
produced  has,  as  a  M'hole,  given  the  best  results,  and  is  the  one  quite 
universally  pursued,  and  there  is  no  specific  evidence  that  it  has  been 
detrimental  to  the  welfare  of  the  salmon;  nor  except  in  a  few  localities 
has  there  been  complaint  that  it  was  injurious  to  the  health  of  the 
community.  When  thrown  into  the  current  fresh  the  offal  seems  to  be 
quickly  dissipated,  and  it  produces  a  nuisance  only  when  placed  in 
quiet,  shallow  water  or  in  eddies,  which  end  to  retain  it  along  the 
shores  or  .to  caiTy  it  into  the  adjacent  sloughs.  If  held  1  *ng  enough 
for  decomposition  to  set  in,  it  tends  to  float  at  the  surface     Pending 


1 

i 


I 


i!  11! 


kBiES. 


FISHERIES  OF  WASHINGfON  AND   BRITISH   COLUMBIA.      349 


|ed  while  the 
ire  required 

)ar  to  be  few 
\{  such  have 
[y  of  the  fish 
dlowed  they 
isage  of  the 
the  Atlantic 

jsh  from  saw- 

lollowed  here 
imbia  is  said 
Ikagit  Eiver, 
»een  dumped 

jrious  injury. 

y  burning  or 

tion,  such  as 
)e  considered 
ear  v/ith  the 
loxious  waste 
liar,  resulting 
3d  by  the  sal- 
Df  oflfal  which 
t  water.  In 
>nd  their  offal 
It  is  different 
)8tly  collected 

iste  materials 
the  Canadian 
medies  being 
Offal  carried 
is  liable  to  be 
zer  on  a  large 
ce  of  allowing 
8  fast  as  it  is 
the  one  quite 
it  it  has  been 
few  localities 
bealtli  of  the 
i\  seems  to  be 
leu  placed  in 
it  along  the 
[  1  *ng  enough 
C€     Pending 


I 
M 

I 


■^ 

4 


the  discovery  of  some  better  way  it  seems  advisable  to  sanction  the 
present  practice  under  due  restrictions,  the  fishery  ofBcers  being  empow- 
ered to  prevent  its  deposition  wherever  it  would  be  i^/ejudicial. 

The  fishermen  of  this  region  are  quite  alive  to  the  benefits  of  fish- 
culture,  and  many  of  them,  in  fact,  have  so  strong  a  faith  in  its  efficacy 
as  to  lead  them  to  magnify  its  possibilities  and  to  conclude  that  through 
its  agency  the  necessity  for  any  regulations  may  be  dispensed  with. 
They  argue  that  if  the  eggs  be  secured  in  suflBcient  quantities  and  the 
proportion  of  survivals  be  as  great  as  claimed  by  some  fish-cnlturists, 
why  should  not  the  supply  of  fish  be  capable  of  maintenance  and 
even  of  unlimited  increase  by  this  means  alonef  There  is  no  evidence, 
however,  that  would  warrant  us  in  anticipating  so  large  a  measure  of 
success  either  here  or  elsewhere,  and  the  time  of  unrestricted  fishing 
is  undoubtedly  as  far  distant  now  as  ever. 

The  artificial  propagation  of  the  sockeye  was  started  on  the  Fraser 
River  in  1884,  and  since  1887  the  number  of  fry  and  advanced  eggs 
planted  yearly  has  ranged  from  2,400,000  to  something  over  6,000,000. 
Its  primary  object  was  to  equali^ce  the  annual  runs  of  that  species,  to 
make  them  larger  during  the  off'  years.  The  abundance  of  fish  during 
the  past  few  seasons  has  been  very  commonly  ascribed  to  this  ciuse, 
the  quantity  having  apparently  become  greater  in  all  years.  While  it 
is  to  be  hoped  that  there  is  some  foundation  for  this  explanation  of  the 
increase,  it  is  well  to  bear  in  mind  that  the  annual  output  of  fry,  espe- 
cially after  allowing  for  the  inevitable  mortality  among  them,  has  been 
much  smaller  than  the  annual  cateh  of  adult  fish,  and  scarcely  sufficient 
to  make  itself  felt  to  anything  like  the  extent  noted  within  so  short  a 
period. 

On  the  Skagit  River  fish-culture  began  in  1896-97  with  an  output  of 
5,500,000  sockeye  fry;  in  1898, 6,000,000  were  planted,  while  the  number 
of  eggs  collected  in  the  fall  of  1898  was  7,500,000.  The  opportunities 
for  collecting  the  eggs  on  this  stream  are  exceptionally  good,  but  it 
is  still  too  early  to  expect  results.  The  quinnat  offers  a  much  more 
interesting  field  for  experimentation  than  the  sockeye  in  the  direction 
of  improving  the  color  and  quality  of  its  flesh  by  the  introduction  of 
fry  from  the  Columbia  River — a  project  suggested  some  years  ago,  but 
never  carried  into  effect.  While  the  success  of  such  a  measure  could 
only  be  determined  by  actual  trial,  it  seems  to  be  worth  the  effort,  and 
the  transplanting  presents  no  difficulties  that  could  not  readily  be 
overcome.    An  increase  in  the  abundance  of  the  species  is  also  called  for. 

A  great  waste  of  salmon  occurs  in  connection  both  with  canning 
operations  and  with  the  fishery,  which  may  be  expected  to  continue  as 
long  as  fish  are  plentiful.  Lacking  an  incentive  to  economize  in  the 
preparation  of  the  catch,  little  pains  are  taken  by  the  cannery  opera- 
tives to  cut  closely  in  removing  the  heads  and  fins,  and  much  edible 
meat  is  thus  lost.  The  exercise  of  greai.er  care  would  add  to  the 
expense  of  canning  without  material  gain  under  existing  circumstances, 


ill  I 


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rflii 


"hI 


350       REPORT   OP   COMMISSIONER   OP   PISH   AND   FISHERIB?- 

but  in  time  much  of  these  rejected  parts  will  come  to  have  a  value. 
The  more  serious  waste,  however,  results  from  overfishing  in  years  of 
great  plenty,  as  in  the  case  of  the  sockeye  on  the  Fraser  River,  where 
in  some  years  the  catch  is  much  larger  than  can  be  handled.  Jmmense 
quantities  are  thrown  away,  prices  fall,  and  the  independent  fishermen 
lose  heavily,  while  the  canners  and  dealers  who  control  the  market  can 
so  regulate  the  catch  by  their  own  boats  as  to  keep  it  within  the  proper 
bounds.  The  impulse  to  increase  the  amount  of  fishing  in  the  good 
years  is  quite  natural,  but  it  would  seem  as  though  the  number  of  nets 
allowed  might  be  adjusted  to  suit  the  conditions  of  each  season,  were 
the  requisite  discretionary  powers  conferred  upon  some  local  authority. 
The  matter  can  not  be  remedied  through  the  medium  of  an  inflexible 
law,  and  decisive  action  ma^need  to  be  taken  after  the  season  has  fairly 
opened. 

As  the  sockeye  catch  has  seldom,  if  ever,  been  equal  to  the  demand 
in  the  waters  of  Washington,  it  is  improbable  that  there  has  ever  been 
a  serious,  if  any,  waste  of  this  species  south  of  the  boundary.  While 
the  traps  may  secure  exceedingly  large  catches  at  times,  the  methods 
of  keeping  the  fish  al'vehave  prevented  loss,  except  perhaps  in  some 
cases  where  they  have  had  to  be  transported  a  considerable  distance 
by  scows.  The  discarding  of  the  humpbacks  taken  in  the  traps  with 
the  sockeye  after  removal  from  the  water  causes  much  destruction  of 
that  form,  which  seems  at  present  to  be  unavoidable. 


ERIE?. 

lave  a  value, 
ig  in  years  of 
River,  where 
id.  Jnimense 
ent  fishermen 
le  market  can 
lin  the  proper 

in  the  good 
imber  of  nets 

season,  were 

)cal  authority. 

an  inflexible 

son  has  fairly 

o  the  demand 
has  ever  been 
dary.  While 
,  the  methods 
haps  in  some 
'able  distance 
he  traps  with 
lestruotion  of 


Ifipii'iFi 


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